The NYT × Delta Free Trial
Spring 2026
I led product design for the Delta × New York Times 24-Hour Trial, defining the user experience across platforms—from the Delta Sync seatback to the NYT web ecosystem. This complex project required managing strict co-branding parameters, solving for severe in-flight technical constraints, and designing a highly compliant authentication flow.
Role: Product Designer
Skills: Systems Thinking, Interaction Design, Collaboration, Communication
Timing: April 2026
Skills: Systems Thinking, Interaction Design, Collaboration, Communication
Timing: April 2026
The Friction Point
Delta wanted to provide SkyMiles members with a free 24‑Hour Trial to NYT All Access right from their flight. The old registration page didn't mention Delta at all, which felt confusing and disconnected for someone sitting on a plane.
We needed to tell a cohesive story that connected a physical airplane seat to a digital newsroom. The challenge was figuring out how to respect two completely different brand guidelines, keep the pages incredibly lightweight for bad airplane connections, and guide users toward lifestyle content rather than heavy breaking news.
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Delta wanted to provide SkyMiles members with a free 24‑Hour Trial to NYT All Access right from their flight. The old registration page didn't mention Delta at all, which felt confusing and disconnected for someone sitting on a plane.
We needed to tell a cohesive story that connected a physical airplane seat to a digital newsroom. The challenge was figuring out how to respect two completely different brand guidelines, keep the pages incredibly lightweight for bad airplane connections, and guide users toward lifestyle content rather than heavy breaking news.
Initial User Flow for Delta Partnership
Solving for Constraints
To turn these big-picture business goals into an actual working product, I teamed up with product managers, engineers, and legal teams from both sides. Together, we mapped out exactly how a user would move from their seatback screen into the NYT ecosystem.
Login and Registration Explorations
I explored different login layouts and copy to find the perfect balance between speed, simplicity, and brand rules. On an airplane, people are easily distracted, so the screens had to be incredibly clean. I used the NYT design system to build screens that clearly thanked Delta for the trial and showed off the value of a subscription without overwhelming the user.
Linking Page Explorations
I also designed a dedicated "linking page." This was a crucial behind-the-scenes step where our systems connected their account and also a great moment to welcome users to the trial. Because airplane Wi-Fi is notoriously slow, I optimized every single image to make sure the page loaded instantly. After collaborating with the team, we built a minimal layout with a friendly headline and a quick product carousel to show Delta members all the perks they could enjoy.
Execution & Impact
By using standard design system components, I created a series of optimized login, registration, and linking pages that satisfied both companies' legal and brand requirements.
Final Designs
I led design for a frictionless onboarding experience under tight technical constraints where we successfully brought two giant legacy brands together and created a blueprint for all of NYT's future B2B partnerships.
