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Design Research Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Conifer

Design Researcher Openings

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

Conifer Research conducts design research projects both domestically and internationally for clients across a wide variety of industries. DESIGN RESEARCHER People are endlessly fascinating, don't you ...

Conifer

Design Researcher Openings

Chicago, IL · Remote

Conifer Research conducts design research projects both domestically and internationally for clients across a wide variety of industries. DESIGN RESEARCHER People are endlessly fascinating, don't you ...

Conifer

Design Researcher - Contractor

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

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 ...

Conifer

Design Researcher - Contractor

Chicago, IL · Remote

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 ...

Meltwater Group

Sr. Design Manager, Product

Chicago, IL · On-site

$130 - $144/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Work with UX design research team to identify user pain points, assess products, and identify UX opportunities. * Mentorship: Serve as a direct manager and mentor to designers, modeling exemplary ...

OPTO International

Be Seen First

Design Engineer

Wood Dale, IL · On-site

$70K - $90K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

The Design Engineer will also be responsible for carrying out the duties of the Engineering department, including design, research, prototyping, engineering documentation, estimating and process ...

Jobtailor

UX Designer

Chicago, IL · On-site

$90 - $140/hr

User-centered design: research, usability testing, heuristic evaluation, journey mapping, prototyping. * Visual craft: typography, color, layout, hierarchy, motion. * WCAG 2.1 AA in practice. * Agile ...

New

Meltwater

Sr. Design Manager, Product

Chicago, IL · On-site

$130 - $144/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Work with UX design research team to identify user pain points, assess products, and identify UX opportunities. * Mentorship: Serve as a direct manager and mentor to designers, modeling exemplary ...

ULINE

UX Researcher

Waukegan, IL

  • Medical

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Bachelor's Degree in User Experience (UX) Design / Research , Psychology, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Anthropology or related field. * 2+ years of UX research experience. * Experience ...

ULINE

UX Researcher

Glenview, IL

  • Medical

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Bachelor's Degree in User Experience (UX) Design / Research , Psychology, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Anthropology or related field. * 2+ years of UX research experience. * Experience ...

Northern Trust

Senior Experience Design Lead

Chicago, IL · On-site

$114K - $194K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

They lead research for specific features and services in with their peers and counterparts in ... Ability to put Human-Centered Design and UI/UX best practices to work within a professional setting ...

Cccis

Vice President, Product Design

Chicago, IL

$159K - $196K/yr

  • Medical

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Evolve design from a reactive service model to a proactive, product-shaping partner; establish operating models across design, research, design systems, and design operations; drive prioritization ...

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Showing results 1-20

All JobsDesign Research JobsDesign Research Jobs in Chicago, IL

Design Research information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$38.1K

$109.2K

$146.8K

How much do design research jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 19, 2026, the average yearly pay for design research in Chicago, IL is $109,208.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $107,100.00 and $107,100.00 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 the most commonly searched types of Design Research jobs in Chicago, IL?

The most popular types of Design Research jobs in Chicago, IL are:

What are popular job titles related to Design Research jobs in Chicago, IL?

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

What job categories do people searching Design Research jobs in Chicago, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Design Research jobs in Chicago, IL are:

Design Research jobs near you
Infographic showing various Design Research job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 4% Internship, 80% Full Time, 8% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 82% In-person, 8% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $109,208 per year, or $52.5 per hour.

Design Researcher Openings

Conifer

Chicago, IL • On-site, Remote

Contractor

Re-posted 2 days ago

Job description

Conifer Research conducts design research projects both domestically and internationally for clients across a wide variety of industries.
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. Though there may be longer-term opportunities in the future, we are currently looking to hire on a project 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) 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. Apply through our career portal: https://conifer.recruiterbox.com/jobs/fk0tf5/

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