Design Researcher

Overview

Design Researcher | 178005-1 

Are you ready to redefine digital experiences and make a tangible impact on millions of lives? As a pivotal Design Researcher, you will join a leading financial institution, partnering with Aquent, to shape the future of digital products. Your expertise will be at the heart of transforming customer interactions, ensuring every touchpoint is intuitive, meaningful, and exceptional. This is an unparalleled opportunity to influence strategy, drive innovation, and elevate the standard for digital excellence within a global leader, contributing directly to solutions that serve a vast and diverse user base.

**About Our Client**

Our client is a prominent financial institution committed to setting the industry standard for exceptional digital experiences. They place strategy, research, design principles, and technical innovation at the core of their operations. They are dedicated to creating a supportive environment where design professionals feel valued, included, and empowered to push the boundaries of digital product design.

**Your Impact**

As a Design Researcher, you will be instrumental in shaping the digital experiences created across various products. Embedded within cross-functional teams of designers, product managers, and developers, you will proactively identify critical decisions requiring research insights. Your work will directly inform product development, ensuring user needs are deeply understood and addressed, and that the organization continues to be a global digital leader. You will contribute to a culture where research is a collaborative journey, not a silo, working closely with your team to integrate insights seamlessly into the design process.

**What You’ll Do**

Design Research Strategy:
* Build strong relationships with key stakeholders across design and business units.
* Support designers and business stakeholders in prioritizing potential research activities.
* Develop effective research fieldwork approaches (moderated or unmoderated) that align with business and design objectives.

Research and Testing (Execution, Synthesis, Analysis):
* Design and conduct research activities to evaluate prototypes, enhance understanding of current user contexts, and uncover evolving user needs.
* Moderate live sessions with users and internal stakeholders, covering complex or sensitive topics.
* Clearly communicate core themes and implications derived from your research to design teams and other stakeholders.
* Design and facilitate engaging ideation sessions and collaborative work activities.

**What You’ll Bring**

* **Must-Have:**
* BA/BS degree in Psychology, Anthropology, Sociology, Information Studies, Design (e.g., interaction, graphic, visual communications, product, industrial), Human Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science (CS), or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
* A minimum of 3 years of experience in research.
* Technical understanding of design research theory and tools.
* Working knowledge of a variety of design research methodologies.
* Experience working effectively on cross-functional teams.

* **What Will Set You Apart:**
* MA/MS degree or certification in Psychology, Anthropology, Sociology, Information Studies, Design (e.g., interaction, graphic, visual communications, product, industrial), Human Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science (CS), or a related field.
* A strong appreciation for the potential of ‘design thinking’.
* Experience working within a large organization and within an agile environment.
* Experience contributing to the successful launch of a digital product.

The target hiring compensation range for this role is $54 – $63.75 an hour. Compensation is based on several factors including, but not limited to education, relevant work experience, relevant certifications, and location.

**About Aquent Talent:**

Aquent Talent connects the best talent in marketing, creative, and design with the world’s biggest brands. Our eligible talent get access to amazing benefits like subsidized health, vision, and dental plans, paid sick leave, and retirement plans with a match. More information on our awesome benefits! Aquent is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. We’re about creating an inclusive environment—one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.

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