Associate Design Researcher
Location
Delhi | India
Job description
- Quicksand is seeking a design researcher who is adept at uncovering insights through design research and is skillful at translating such insights into opportunities for innovation
- Design research is the foundation of our practice, finding applications in all aspects of consulting and independent work across sectors
- Your role is imperative for leading investigations into the diverse contexts of our work
- We take pride in the plurality of disciplines, sectors, and approaches our portfolio demonstrates
Benefits of working at Quicksand
- A compensation package commensurate with your skills and experience will be designed for you.
- Quicksand additionally offers a performance-linked bonus on your annual base salary, depending on a review of your performance and achievement of overall studio targets.
- The studio offers 48 days of total paid leaves per calendar year. This includes 8 public holidays, 15 days of summer and winter vacation, which we take across the studio, as well as 25 days of annual leave, across vacation, casual, and sick leaves.
- All full-time employees at Quicksand are covered under annual medical insurance (including spouse and children) for a value of Rs. 5 lakhs annually.
- Employees are provided necessary infrastructure, including laptops.
- Our studio offers delicious meals prepared in-house.
Job Responsibilities
Planning and leading design research studies
- In response to project briefs, develop an iterative design, research, and testing plan leading to the desired project outcomes.
- Design discussion guides, research probes, tools, and participatory exercises with research subjects
- Conduct synthesis and analysis of the research using design research methods
- Lead and facilitate in-field conversations and discussions
- Document in-field findings through note-taking, rapid sketches, and the use of rich media like film and photography
- Facilitate co-creation sessions with a variety of stakeholders
- Manage research logistics (travel schedules, participant recruitment, research rewards, consent, etc)
- Supplement primary research with secondary research and analysis
Synthesis and concept development
- Use a variety of tools, such as personas, journey maps, system maps, affinity clusters, etc, to synthesise research findings and distil user insights.
- Develop user-centered design solutions for the given problem statement
- Apply rapid visualisation, prototyping, and concept development skills to express emerging solutions in the form of storyboards, scenarios, design fiction, sketches, data visualizations, etc
- Work with team members, external partners, and vendors to collaboratively develop design solutions and express solution concepts.
Presentation and report writing
- Create infographics, presentations, and written reports as part of interim and final project outputs.
Relevant experience and mindset
- A Bachelors or Masters degree in design from a leading program in India or abroad with a specific focus on research (Industrial Design, Service Design, Design, Strategic Design, Design Methods, etc) or the Social Sciences with adequate skills in conducting both qualitative and quantitative research
- 1-3 years of professional practice in your chosen field/s
- High level of skills in some foundational design software such as those in the Adobe Creative Suite, Figma or Miro
- Skills in the design and development of research-based media - reports, summaries, books, online content, infographics, funding proposals, design development research, rich media-based content, and so on
- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English. Knowledge of any other languages (including Hindi) would be a definite plus but not mandatory.
- Ability to think critically and have exceptional attention to detail
- A nuanced understanding of applied research and driving actionable research outcomes
- Evidence of experimentation with research ideologies, tools, and approaches.
- Some evidence of independent creative work would be viewed very positively
- A roll-up-your-sleeves attitude towards your work
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