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Design Research Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

Jobtailor

Manager, Experiential Design

Allen Park, MI · On-site

$90 - $130/hr

Integration of design research and "Return On Experience"; Liaison with external agencies, Ford business partners, GDE partners; Center of excellence for human-centered design and design research;

Aegis Worldwide

Mechanical Design Engineer

Highland, MI

$48.08 - $57.69/hr

Support installations and testing at customer sites when needed(~10%) WhatWe'reLooking For * 3+ years of hands-on mechanical design / R&D experience * Strong fundamentals in structures, materials ...

New

Flowserve

Specialist R&D Engineer

Kalamazoo, MI

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

The Specialist Research and Development (R&D) Engineer for Pumps and Seals is responsible for ... Drive innovation by generating new designs, design methods, and technical solutions for pump and ...

Haworth, Inc

Industrial Design Studio Director

Holland, MI · On-site

$150 - $230/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

As a part of the Global Design, Research, Innovation and Sustainability Group, this position plays a critical role in delivering our creative culture and design excellence across the business. As a ...

Haworth, Inc.

Industrial Design Studio Director

Holland, MI

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

As a part of the Global Design, Research, Innovation and Sustainability Group, this position plays a critical role in delivering our creative culture and design excellence across the business. As a ...

Haworth, Inc.

Industrial Design Studio Director

Holland, MI · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

As a part of the Global Design, Research, Innovation and Sustainability Group, this position plays a critical role in delivering our creative culture and design excellence across the business. As a ...

Hamilton Anderson Associates

Design Professional II

Detroit, MI · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Conduct case study research and assist with documenting user needs and project requirements * Assist with documenting existing building conditions and site information * Prepare schematic design ...

Apidel Technologies

Staff Engineer

Portage, MI · On-site

Conduct and design research and studies to support advanced product design. Translate user needs to design inputs/specifications and produce advanced component and sub-system level designs. Analyze ...

Aquent

Industrial Designer

Dearborn, MI · On-site

$50 - $55/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

Lead design evaluation activities, including co-creation sessions and design research, and iterate on designs based on feedback. Must-Have Qualifications * Professional experience with more than 5 ...

F.tech R&D North America, Inc.

Design Engineer

Troy, MI

$70K - $77K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

DESIGN ENGINEER Location: Troy, MI or Troy, OH (we have a position open in both MI and OH locations ... D North America, Inc. specializes in the research and development of chassis, support structures ...

University of Michigan

RESEARCH FELLOW

Ann Arbor, MI · On-site

Design experiments * Direct data generation and analysis * Write the first draft of research manuscripts with input and feedback from the PI * Present experimental results internally and at ...

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Showing results 1-20

All JobsDesign Research JobsDesign Research Jobs in Michigan

Design Research information

See Michigan salary details

$32.2K

$92.4K

$124.2K

How much do design research jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for design research in Michigan is $92,400.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $90,600.00 and $90,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Design Researcher, you need a solid understanding of research methodologies, user experience principles, and data analysis, often supported by a degree in design, psychology, or a related field. Familiarity with tools like UserTesting, Qualtrics, and data visualization software is commonly required. Strong communication, empathy, and critical thinking skills help researchers effectively interpret insights and collaborate with cross-functional teams. These skills ensure that research findings directly inform user-centered design solutions, leading to better products and experiences.

What is the difference between Design Research vs User Experience Designer?

AspectDesign ResearchUser Experience Designer
Primary FocusUnderstanding user needs and behaviors through research methodsDesigning and improving user interfaces and interactions
Required SkillsQualitative and quantitative research, data analysis, user interviewsWireframing, prototyping, visual design, usability testing
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, field studies, collaborative teamsDesign studios, product teams, cross-functional collaboration
Common UsageGathering insights to inform design decisionsCreating user-centered designs based on research findings

While both roles focus on improving user experiences, Design Research primarily involves understanding user needs through research, whereas User Experience Designers apply those insights to create and refine digital interfaces. Both roles often collaborate closely within product teams to ensure user needs are effectively addressed.

How does a design researcher typically collaborate with designers and product teams throughout a project?

Design Researchers work closely with designers, product managers, and engineers to ensure user insights are integrated at every stage of the development process. Early in a project, they help define user needs and pain points by conducting interviews, surveys, or usability tests. As the project progresses, they facilitate workshops, share findings through presentations or reports, and recommend design improvements based on research data. Effective communication and a collaborative mindset are essential, as researchers often act as the bridge between users and the product team.

What is design research?

Design research is a field that focuses on understanding users’ needs, behaviors, and experiences to inform and improve the design process. It combines methods from social sciences, such as interviews and observations, with design thinking principles to gather insights that help create user-centered products, services, or systems. Design researchers work closely with designers, product managers, and stakeholders to ensure that solutions are both innovative and practical, ultimately enhancing the user experience.

What are popular job titles related to Design Research jobs in Michigan?

For Design Research jobs in Michigan, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Design Research jobs in Michigan look for?

The top searched job categories for Design Research jobs in Michigan are:

What cities in Michigan are hiring for Design Research jobs?

Cities in Michigan with the most Design Research job openings:

Design Research jobs near you
Infographic showing various Design Research job openings in Michigan as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 84% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $92,400 per year, or $44.4 per hour.

Manager, Experiential Design

Jobtailor

Allen Park, MI • On-site

$90 - $130/hr

Other

Posted 8 days ago

Job description

Design Coordination & Design Responsibilities
  • Design Coordination: Develop project brief in partnership with delivery team; Responsible for project timelines and resource deployment for on time/on budget delivery; Coordinate digital and environmental design for seamless integration.
  • Design: Produce and coordinate design concepts, presentation material, technical solutions, mock-ups, FFE, brand, exhibit and artwork; Integration of design research and "Return On Experience"; Liaison with external agencies, Ford business partners, GDE partners; Center of excellence for human-centered design and design research; Global retail design standards and guidelines including program-specific design intent documents.
Requirements
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher in Architecture, Design, Research or a related field.
  • 5+ years of experience in commercial design or design research
  • 3+ years of experience working with large teams and multiple stakeholders
  • 3+ years of project experience in human experience design
  • Master’s degree in architecture or interior design from an accredited institution (preferred).
  • Experience delivering design programs across global markets or large retail networks preferred.
Hard Skills
  • design coordination
  • project management
  • design concepts
  • technical solutions
  • mock-ups
  • human-centered design
  • design research
  • global retail design standards
  • program-specific design intent documents
Soft Skills
  • communication
  • collaboration
  • stakeholder management
  • team leadership
Certifications & Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s degree in Architecture
  • Bachelor’s degree in Design
  • Bachelor’s degree in Research
  • Master’s degree in Architecture
  • Master’s degree in Interior Design
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