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Design Research Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

Following, learning, and contributing to R&D procedures, such as design controls and risk management, per the Quality Management System. * Assisting prototyping efforts and bench testing. What you ...

Following, learning, and contributing to R&D procedures, such as design controls and risk management, per the Quality Management System. * Assisting prototyping efforts and bench testing. What you ...

Design Engineer

Troy, MI · On-site

$70K - $77K/yr

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 ...

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 ...

Showing results 21-40

Design Research information

See Michigan salary details

$32.2K

$92.4K

$124.2K

How much do design research jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 4, 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 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 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.

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 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 much do design researchers make?

Design researchers typically earn a median annual salary between $70,000 and $110,000, depending on experience, location, and industry. Entry-level roles may start around $60,000, while senior positions can exceed $130,000, especially in tech or large organizations. Skills in user research, data analysis, and familiarity with tools like Sketch or Figma can influence compensation.

What does a design researcher do?

A design researcher studies user behaviors, needs, and preferences to inform the development of products, services, or interfaces. They use methods such as interviews, surveys, and usability testing, often working closely with designers and product teams to ensure user-centered solutions.

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 cities in Michigan are hiring for Design Research jobs?

Cities in Michigan with the most Design Research job openings:

Infographic showing various Design Research job openings in Michigan as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 9% Part Time, 4% Contract, and 1% Nights. 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.

UX - Product - Service Designer

Amerisure Mutual Insurance Company

Farmington Hills, MI • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Posted 29 days ago


Job description

Amerisure creates exceptional value for its partners, policyholders, and employees. As a property and casualty insurance company, Amerisure's promise to our partner agencies and policyholders begins with a comprehensive line of insurance products designed to protect businesses, as well as the health and safety of every employee. With an A.M. Best "A" (Excellent) rating, Amerisure serves mid-sized commercial enterprises focused in construction, manufacturing and healthcare. Ranked as one of the top 100 Property & Casualty companies in the United States, we proudly manage nearly $1 Billion of Direct Written Premium and maintain $1.21 billion in surplus.
We are recruiting for a Designer, User Experience, to join our team. This is a hybrid role working out of our Farmington Hill, MI office 3 days a week and 2 from home.
Position Summary:
The User Experience Designer will spearhead the customer-centric design process and bring the voice of our users to the forefront. Responsibilities will include creation of customer journey maps which are holistic, intuitive, relevant, and personalized, while also going a layer deeper into operational process with the creation of end-to-end process maps that connect user experiences to underlying business operations. The UX Designer will own and deliver intuitive, efficient, and scalable experiences, which may include customer or employee experiences, by aligning customer journeys with operational processes, systems, and cross-functional workflows across product teams.
Responsibilities:
  • Provide thought leadership in design thinking and user-centered design.
  • Work closely with end users, product owners, stakeholders, and teams to understand the full picture, set the vision for the user experience, and ensure the preservation of the original design intent in the final product as well as its position within the entirety of the eco-system.
  • Translate customer journeys into clearly defined end-to-end business and system processes.
  • Partner with product, engineering, and business teams to map current-state and future-state processes, identifying pain points, inefficiencies, and opportunities.
  • Align UX outputs with broader enterprise workflows, data flows, and ecosystem dependencies.
  • Champion and advocate for the UX organizational transformation.
  • Act as a subject matter expert on assigned product team(s).
  • Solve complex design challenges and create enjoyable digital experiences.
  • Deeply understand your audiences through research, testing, personas, and journeys.
  • Visualize experiences via wireframes, flow maps, visual mockups, and prototypes.
  • Contribute to a design language system to help support visual consistency across all digital tools.
  • Keep abreast of new UX design concepts and technologies.

Requirements:
  • Bachelor's degree in Human Computer Interaction, Graphic Design, Service Design, other relevant degree, or demonstrated technical field experience required.
  • 5 years of experience in user centered design, product design or service design with a focus on the end-to-end process.
  • 5 years of experience leading UX conversations in a collaborative team setting.
  • Excellent project management skills including leading agile cross-functional teams.
  • Demonstrated experience creating process maps and workflow diagrams that connect user experience with business operation.
  • Ability to analyze and simplify complex systems and operational workflows.
  • Strong understanding and ability to execute UX Research Methods.
  • Demonstrated successful ability to create user-centric experiences
  • Demonstrated successful ability to turn design research into tangible, actionable outcomes
  • Fluency in best practices for information architecture and responsive design, as well as deep and broad knowledge of usability principles and techniques
  • Experience in design research, writing user tests and moderating test designs with users.
  • Proficiency with design/process flow tools such as: Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Lucid.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to deal with ambiguity.
  • Excellent attention to detail.
  • Creative and innovative thinker.
  • Excellent organizational skills and ability to function in a fast paced, highly visible, and changing environment.

#LI-CR1
Just as we are committed to creating exceptional value for our Partners For Success® agencies and policyholders, Amerisure also remains committed to being an employer of choice. We reinforce this commitment by adhering to an Employee Value Proposition that, in part, is provided through a competitive total rewards package. This package includes competitive base pay, performance-based incentive pay, comprehensive health and welfare benefits, a 401(k) savings plan with profit sharing, and generous paid time off programs. We also offer flexible work arrangements to promote work-life balance. Recognized as one of the Best and Brightest® Companies to Work For in the Nation and one of Business Insurance magazine's Best Places to Work in Insurance, we provide a workplace that fosters excellence and professional growth. If you are looking for a collaborative and rewarding career, Amerisure is looking for you.
Amerisure Mutual Insurance Company is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. Amerisure provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (to include sexual orientation and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable federal, state, or local laws. Amerisure complies with all applicable laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in all locations where the company operates. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. Amerisure prohibits harassment or discrimination of any kind and is committed to maintaining a workplace free from unlawful harassment or discrimination. Amerisure prohibits retaliation against anyone who reports discrimination, participates in an investigation, or opposes unlawful practices. Any improper interference with an employee's ability to perform their job duties may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination.