Social Innovation Design Researcher Jobs (NOW HIRING)

At Corgan we are passionate about great design but the best thing we build is each other. Here, you’ll find camaraderie and collaboration as abundantly as curiosity and creativity. Corgan is a welcoming and supportive environment that provides significant career advantages. You’ll find room to grow, freedom to explore — and the safety to fail. Thank you for your interest in joining our curious, passionate, hardworking team.

Corgan is actively recruiting a dynamic Design Researcher  - Data Strategist to join the firm as part of our Hugo team. Hugo is Corgan’s Research and Innovation team, who explores human behavior, emerging technologies, and the built environment to better understand how design can improve human experience and shape the future of architecture. Working under the direction of Hugo leadership, you will partner with researchers, designers, and clients to transform complex data into strategic insights, analytical tools, and innovative solutions that improve decision-making and create lasting value for our clients, projects, and the future of design. 

As a Design Researcher, you will play a crucial role in gathering and analyzing data to inform design decisions and shape user experiences. You will work closely with cross functional teams under the direction of the Hugo Director  to uncover user insights, track emerging trends, develop data strategies, and creating compelling information designs that enhance user engagement.  

• • Explore complex and ambiguous questions related to human behavior, emerging technology, data strategy, and the performance and experience of the built environment. 

  • Collaborate with project stakeholders to define research questions, identify appropriate data sources, and develop research and analytical plans. 

  • Develop analytical approaches, statistical models, and scalable workflows to analyze, predict, and automate insights from complex structured and unstructured datasets. 

  • Create forecasts, benchmarking frameworks, analytical models, and scalable tools that transform data into actionable guidance for architectural and design decision-making. 

  • Build interactive prototypes, dashboards, digital tools, and other applications that allow designers and clients to explore information and apply research findings. 

  • Test, refine, and document new tools, models, and methodologies so that they can be understood, repeated, and scaled across projects. 

  • Translate complex data and technical findings into clear insights, compelling visualizations, interactive experiences, and actionable design recommendations for both technical and nontechnical audiences. 

  • Develop new methods and tools for collecting data from occupants, environments, digital platforms, building systems, and other relevant sources. 

  • Research emerging technologies, industry shifts, user expectations, and cross-industry trends that may influence the future of design. 

  • Develop industry reports, demographic and segmentation studies, geographic comparisons, trend analyses, and research-driven thought leadership. 

• • Bachelors degree with a focus on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) Information Design, Data Science, Business Analytics, Applied Statistics, or a related field. An architecture or interior design degree is a plus.  

  • Approximately 3-8 years of relevant professional experience required.  

  • Demonstrated ability to navigate open-ended problems, define a path forward, and select appropriate methods, tools, and levels of technical complexity. 

  • Ability to synthesize building, environmental, behavioral, operational, demographic, and market data into clear conclusions, compelling narratives, and actionable design implications. 

  • Experience conducting trend analysis, market research, benchmarking, or cross-industry research is valuable. 

  • Strong proficiency in one or more programming languages, such as Python, R, JavaScript, Scala, Java, or similar. A portfolio demonstrating applied experience in computational analysis, data visualization, tool development, research, or information design is required. 

  • Experience applying computational methods, statistics, artificial intelligence, or machine learning to analyze, model, interpret, and visualize complex structured and unstructured datasets. 

  • Experience creating web-based applications, dashboards, interactive data experiences, APIs, prototypes, or custom analytical and decision-support tools are required. 

  • Working knowledge of databases, data pipelines, version control systems, cloud-based data platforms, and predictive or computational analytics. 

  • Proficiency with data visualization and business intelligence platforms such as Power BI, Tableau, CBInsights, or similar tools. 

  • Familiarity with interface and information-design tools such as Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar platforms is valuable. 

  • Experience with geospatial analysis, spatial data platforms, or 3D modeling tools such as ArcGIS, QGIS, Mapbox, Placer.ai, Revit, Rhino, Grasshopper, or SketchUp is valuable. 

  • Experience with research platforms such as Qualtrics, dscout, UserTesting, SurveyMonkey, Microsoft Forms, or similar tools is valuable. 

  • Excellent written, verbal, and visual communication skills, including the ability to explain complex ideas clearly, collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, and communicate research through reports, presentations, publications, or other forms of thought leadership. 

This position is designated as full-time on-site and requires the employee to be physically present at the assigned office location Monday through Friday during standard business hours. Regular, reliable on-site attendance is an essential function of this role.

Corgan creates opportunities for personal and professional growth that bring out the best in ourselves and those around us by sharpening skills, leveraging technology, and encouraging communication. Our commitment to the highest standards of professional ethics is unwavering. Our passion, drive for excellence, and abiding curiosity guide us each day in our interaction with our clients, partners, associates, and with each other. Corgan promotes a healthy work-life balance by removing obstacles and allowing you to focus on what you love doing, both inside and outside the office.

Join Corgan and help make amazing places at a place that makes you amazing!

*Only applications received through our website will be considered. For design positions, please also be sure to upload your portfolio or review of your application will be delayed. *

EOE/M/F/Disability/Vet

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