Senior Design Researcher

Design Researcher (Industry Agnostic)

Chicago, IL

At IDEO, we use design to create new products, services, experiences; tangible strategies; and creative capabilities.

IDEO is in search of a flexible Design Researcher who will partner with our interdisciplinary teams in Chicago to contribute to qualitative and quantitative research across an exceptional variety of projects, clients, and problem spaces.

In a Nutshell:

As a junior hire within IDEO’s Cambridge Design Research practice, you’ll partner with interdisciplinary teams to contribute to both qualitative and quantitative sprints across a wide variety of industries, but especially within the complex systems space - Health systems, fintech solutions, or CPG to name a few. We are looking for someone who thrives at the intersection of ethnography, systems thinking, and synthesis - someone who can not only uncover insights but also lead clients and teammates through making meaning of them.

We welcome candidates who have recently completed coursework in Anthropology, Sociology, Design Research, or related fields. This role is ideal for those new to the professional world of applied research, and looking to grow within a collaborative and curious team. We are especially excited to meet candidates who blend a high EQ for ethnographic research skills with foundational data science chops - someone who loves people, patterns, and turning complex information into clarity.

This hire must be within commutable distance of our Chicago Studio location at 626 West Jackson Blvd. IDEO proudly supports flexible work.

Once here you will:

• Design and execute mixed-methods research projects such as in-home interviews and shop-/ ride-alongs, as well as remote studies, expert interviews, and data-driven inquiries.

• Write research plans, select appropriate methodologies, and scope fieldwork to meet client objectives that explain why people do what they do.

• Facilitate collaborative synthesis with rigor and heart, bringing a multidisciplinary design team and clients along as a storyteller through data and the written word.

• Engage with people deeply through interviewing, in-depth observation, empathy, co-design workshops, remote studies, and group conversations.

• Run key survey design (e.g., Qualtrics), and develop your statistical analysis of results.

• Collaborate with our world-class Design Research Ops team to create inclusive and strategic recruiting plans across diverse participant profiles.

• Analyze and synthesize large volumes of qualitative and quantitative data, spotting patterns and surfacing insights.

• Craft compelling stories, decks and deliverables that make data meaningful for both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Present research findings clearly and confidently to teammates, clients, and stakeholders across a wide representation of industries.

Qualifications / Experience:

We’re excited to meet candidates with an ownership mindset, strong theoretical foundation, and the curiosity to stretch across disciplines. You don’t need to have done it all, but if any of the following describes you, we’d be delighted to see you apply:

• You’ve completed a degree (or other relevant coursework) in Human-Centered Design, Design Research, Data Science, Journalism, Anthropology, Sociology, Psychology, or a research-intensive social science or technical field.

• You bring applied systems thinking to previous professional-grade projects in health, finance, mobility & transportation, learning & CPG; navigating regulated data, case records, or complex ecosystems.

• You delight in asking research questions that connect individual experiences to broader system dynamics.

• You’re confident in leading live synthesis - in other words, translating messy qualitative and quantitative inputs into clear frameworks, and comfortable facilitating synthesis sessions with clients and teammates in the room.

• You love facilitation, with a drive to begin guiding more complex workshops & co-design activities that bring together stakeholders across complex systems.

• (Nice to have) Exposure to data science or UX research practice integrating Python, R or custom coding tools into mixed-methods research, survey design, or applying usability testing principles in design contexts. This may be expressed via independent or collaborative research through a thesis, capstone, lab, studio, or fellowship program; and can talk about what you learned and how you navigated ambiguity with empathy.

• (Nice to have) Excited to translate messy datasets into clear, human-centered insights using visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, D3.js, etc).

• You’ve explored methods like interviews, diary studies, surveys, web scraping, or data visualization through academic or early-career projects.

• You’ve had exposure to design thinking, behavioral science, or ethnography through bootcamps, studios, or self-guided learning.

• You enjoy talking to strangers, learning from others of far-ranging lived experiences, and creating frameworks that help others make better strategic decisions.

• You’ve worked on real-world research for student organizations, university departments, media projects, social enterprises, or internship teams, and are ready to level up your skills in a creative, team-based environment.

Application Requirements and Instructions:

We strongly recommend submitting examples of past work in portfolio/website format.

This application will remain open until January 5th.

Salary & Benefits

IDEO is committed to paying its employees equitably, regardless of gender identity or race/ethnicity/cultural identity. We support the holistic well-being of our community by providing a thoughtfully designed benefits package.

The salary range for this role is $70,000 - $125,000 USD. This range is influenced by a wide range of factors considered in compensation decisions at IDEO. This includes, but is not limited to: skills, industry knowledge, and experience. Final offers may vary from the amount listed based on geography, candidate experience & expertise, and other factors.

In addition to base compensation, IDEO offers a rich benefits package including the following:

Health Benefits: Vision, Dental, Healthcare

Financial Benefits: 401K safe harbor contribution

Family & Caregiving: Parental Leave, Adoption Assistance, Fertility Assistance, Transgender Medical Assistance, Breastmilk shipment, Back-up/Dependent Care, Pet Insurance

Other Benefits: Flexible Work, Flexible Time Off, Paid Holidays, Annual Education Stipend, Home Office Stipend

Commitment to Diversity

At IDEO, we are committed to the work of advancing diversity, equity and inclusion within our organization and in the world. Our purpose of having disproportionate, world-changing impact through design is directly connected to our ability to bring many different perspectives to the table. This applies to our candidates, the people we hire, the clients and customers we serve, and the communities we learn from in our research.

As a human-centered organization, we are committed to working with and designing for people of every race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, socio-economic status, physical ability or attribute, religion, national origin, or political belief. We recognize that this commitment requires ongoing work and sustained attention, as well as adaptation to new insights and best practices. We keep our diversity data public for the sake of accountability and transparency. These commitments will also be part of your journey at IDEO, so please feel free to read more about them here.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.