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Design Research Consultant Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Conifer

Design Researcher - Contractor

Chicago, IL · Remote

Relevant experience in research or insights, including experience in a consultative environment * Bachelor's Degree or Master's Degree in Anthropology, Sociology, Psychology, Design or a related ...

Alliance One Inc.

Sr. UX Research Consultant

Houston, TX · Remote

$40 - $60/hr

How You'll Succeed · Research Design - Work with stakeholders, designers, scrum masters to pick the right type of study to support projects, taking into account timing of deliverables, information ...

PharmaACE

Consultant

Thousand Oaks, CA · On-site

$80 - $110/hr

... Consulting Firm headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey. Our expert teams of Business Analysts ... research, with a deep understanding of methodologies, study design, data interpretation, and ...

Fox

Associate Director, Ad Sales Research

New York, NY · On-site

You will serve as a primary research consultant to internal leadership and external clients ... Design and deliver polished client-facing presentations covering campaign results, category trends ...

Fox

Associate Director, Ad Sales Research

Chicago, IL · On-site

You will serve as a primary research consultant to internal leadership and external clients ... Design and deliver polished client-facing presentations covering campaign results, category trends ...

ZS

Market Research Associate Consultant

Evanston, IL · On-site

$120K - $137K/yr

As a management consulting and technology firm focused on improving life and how we live it, we ... Design custom analyses using tools like Excel, Access, Confirmit and ZS's proprietary software.

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Design Research Consultant information

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How much do design research consultant jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for design research consultant in the United States is $29.44, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.99 and $31.25 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a design research consultant do?

A Design Research Consultant helps organizations understand users’ needs, behaviors, and experiences to inform the design process. They use a variety of research methods, such as interviews, surveys, and usability testing, to gather insights that guide the development of products or services. Their role is crucial in ensuring that solutions are user-centered, effective, and meet business goals. They often work with designers, product managers, and stakeholders to translate research findings into actionable recommendations.

How does a design research consultant typically collaborate with cross-functional teams during a project?

Design Research Consultants work closely with product managers, designers, engineers, and marketing teams to ensure that user insights are integrated throughout the design process. They often facilitate workshops, present research findings, and translate user needs into actionable recommendations. Regular communication and collaboration help align stakeholders on user-centered goals, resulting in solutions that are both innovative and practical. This collaborative approach is essential for ensuring that research drives meaningful design decisions.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a design research consultant, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Design Research Consultant, you need expertise in qualitative and quantitative research methods, a background in fields like design, psychology, or anthropology, and often a relevant degree. Familiarity with tools like user testing platforms, data analysis software (such as SPSS or NVivo), and design prototyping tools is commonly required. Excellent communication, critical thinking, and empathy are vital soft skills for engaging stakeholders and understanding user perspectives. These skills and qualifications are crucial for delivering actionable insights that inform effective, user-centered design solutions.

What is the difference between Design Research Consultant vs User Experience Researcher?

AspectDesign Research ConsultantUser Experience Researcher
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Design, Psychology, or related fields; research certificationsBachelor's or Master's in Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, or related fields; research certifications
Work EnvironmentConsulting firms, design agencies, corporate innovation teamsTech companies, digital agencies, product teams
Industry UsageDesign and innovation projects, client-facing rolesProduct development, user-centered design
Common Search IntentComparing roles in design research and consultingUnderstanding UX research careers and roles

While both roles focus on understanding user needs, a Design Research Consultant typically works across multiple clients or projects, providing strategic insights to inform design. A User Experience Researcher usually works within a specific company or product team, focusing on user testing and usability studies to improve digital products.

How can I become a design research consultant?

To become a design research consultant, you typically need a background in design, human-computer interaction, psychology, or a related field, along with experience in user research methods such as interviews, surveys, and usability testing. Developing skills in data analysis, presentation, and familiarity with tools like Adobe Creative Suite or research platforms can be beneficial. Gaining relevant experience through internships or project work and building a strong portfolio can help establish credibility in the field.
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Design Research Consultant jobs near you
Infographic showing various Design Research Consultant job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $61,236 per year, or $29.4 per hour.

Design Researcher - Contractor

Conifer

Chicago, IL • Remote

Contractor

Re-posted 28 days ago

Job description

DESIGN RESEARCHER

People are endlessly fascinating, don’t you think? We do. Conifer Research is seeking a curious and empathetic Design Researcher who is passionate about humans, learning, and guiding clients to understand what makes people tick and drive strategy and innovation. Conifer provides opportunities to work on projects across numerous industries, wearing many hats along the way – from researcher to strategist to storyteller to user advocate. We are currently looking to hire on a project/contractor basis.

ABOUT CONIFER

Conifer Research brings practical insight to companies that wish to change and innovate. Through an ethnographic approach to research, we help our clients embed their creativity into an understanding of the everyday lives of people they hope to engage – customers, workers, and end-users. Our seasoned team of anthropologists, strategists, and information designers act as consultants, facilitators, and coaches helping organizations gather deep insights.

Clients come to Conifer for many reasons, but with a common challenge: How do we align business activities better with the real lives and needs of customers? We have experience in retail, consumer goods and lifestyles, financial services, healthcare, and digital products. Some clients include Sonos, Samsung, PepsiCo, McDonald’s, Google, Discover, Lowe’s, CarMax, and Ferrara Candy Company.

RESPONSIBILITIES

A successful candidate will be expected to:

  • Work with internal and client teams through all phases of qualitative research or innovation programs, including: planning, research design, data collection, rigorous analysis and synthesis, identifying patterns, developing key insights, ideation and opportunity definition.
  • Execute research programs drawing from established methodologies for ethnography, remote research, evaluative testing, and co-creation.
  • Translate research into actionable recommendations and innovation opportunities.
  • Contribute to synthesis and sensemaking to create narratives that frame research findings in a way that clearly demonstrates the business implications of insights and opportunities
  • Create deliverables and client presentations
  • Be adaptable and creative in order to conduct rigorous remote research

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

The qualities of an ideal candidate include:

  • Relevant experience in research or insights, including experience in a consultative environment
  • Bachelor's Degree or Master's Degree in Anthropology, Sociology, Psychology, Design or a related field
  • Experience designing and fielding remote ethnography and online community research
  • Being strategic, flexible, collaborative, and passionate about advocating for user needs
  • Confident presentation skills and passion for communicating user stories and insights
  • Active engagement in thought leadership within the design research community
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Proficient with Keynote and remote research software

Bonus points for:

  • Experience with video editing (Final Cut, Adobe Premiere and After Effects), Figma, and/or visual storytelling preferred.
  • Visual communication and presentation design skills
  • Previous experience with quantitative research including survey design and quant data analysis
  • Proficiency with video, still photography and audio recording equipment.
  • Foreign language fluency
  • Thought leadership and public speaking experience

APPLICATIONS: Please share a cover letter, portfolio and relevant work samples in addition to resume.

Employment Type: CONTRACTOR

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