Design Researcher

Overview

Design Researcher –

• This is a hybrid role with 3 days per week onsite in our client’s Toronto office
• *In September, this will change to 4 days per week onsite in Toronto office
• A background check must be complete/cleared prior to starting this assignment

Ready to shape the future of digital experiences for millions of users? A leading financial institution, renowned for its commitment to customer-centricity and digital innovation, has partnered with Aquent to find a talented Design Researcher. This is your chance to join a team pushing the boundaries of digital product design, making a tangible impact on the lives of people and communities.

As a Design Researcher, you’ll be the voice of the user, ensuring that every digital interaction feels important and intuitive. Working within a collaborative environment alongside designers, product managers, and developers, you’ll play a pivotal role in shaping user experiences across a variety of digital products. You’ll be embedded within a product, journey, or channel, identifying research needs, proposing methodologies, conducting fieldwork, analyzing data, and socializing your findings to drive impactful design decisions.

What You’ll Do:

• * Build strong relationships with stakeholders across the design team and beyond.
• * Collaborate with designers and business stakeholders to prioritize research activities.
• * Develop effective research fieldwork approaches (moderated and unmoderated) aligned with business and design objectives.
• * Conduct research activities to evaluate prototypes, understand current user contexts, and uncover evolving user needs.
• * Moderate live user sessions and internal stakeholder interviews, including those covering complex or sensitive topics.
• * Communicate key research themes and implications to the design team and stakeholders.
• * Design and facilitate ideation sessions and collaborative workshops.

Must-Haves:

• Proven experience in design research, demonstrating expertise in various research methodologies.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills with the ability to effectively convey complex information to diverse audiences.
• Strong analytical and synthesis skills to distill research data into actionable insights.
• Experience working in a collaborative, cross-functional environment.
• A passion for user-centered design and a commitment to creating exceptional digital experiences.

The target hiring compensation range for this role is $57.37 to $63.75 an hour. Compensation is based on several factors including, but not limited to education, relevant work experience, relevant certifications, and location.
About Aquent Talent:
Aquent Talent connects the best talent in marketing, creative, and design with the world’s biggest brands.
Our eligible talent get access to amazing benefits like subsidized health, vision, and dental plans, paid sick leave, and retirement plans with a match. More information on our awesome benefits!
Aquent is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. We’re about creating an inclusive environment—one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.

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