Digital Product Designer - Advanced - Design Researcher

Mindlance; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company seeks a Digital Product Designer-Advanced (Design Researcher) to enhance advisor-facing tools. This hybrid role focuses on conducting usability research and optimizing workflows using generative AI. The successful candidate will have strong communication skills and be a subject matter expert in design research methodologies.

Qualifications

• Experience in conducting generative and evaluative research using prototypes.
• Skilled in analyzing large sets of research data.
• Ability to present findings to senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Conducting usability testing and generative research.
• Creating research project plans and discussion guides.
• Delivering reports and findings to stakeholders.

Skills

Research Planning

Usability Testing

Data Analysis

Communication

Tools

Figma

Usertesting.com

Maze

Job description

Job Details:
Job Title: Digital Product Designer-Advanced (Design Researcher)
Location: Toronto, ON (Hybrid Onsite)
Duration: 12+ Months

Description:
The Design Researcher will be part of a team working on advisor-facing digital tools. More specifically, the Design Researcher will plan and conduct both generative and usability research to support:

• the launch and ongoing enhancement of a Gen AI desktop tool for advisors;
• an ongoing initiative to optimize the workflow of the advisor desktop, focusing workflow and process optimization.

Duties/Responsibilities:
The Design Researcher will be responsible for:

• Regular consultation with product owners, design team colleagues, and other relevant partners to identify research opportunities,
  • Providing expert advice and guidance on the research methodologies and approaches best suited for the identified opportunities
• Conducting ongoing usability testing as needed with advisors on design concepts for the Gen AI desktop tool, including:
  • Creation of research project plans, discussions guides, and session planning
  • Working with the Gen AI tool Interaction Designer to plan and create Figma prototypes to support usability testing
  • Conducting moderated and unmoderated usability testing with advisors
  • Collecting, organizing, analyzing and synthesizing advisor feedback from usability testing
  • Drafting and presenting research findings to colleagues and stakeholders, and working with design and product colleagues to create design and/or product recommendations based on findings
• Conducting both generative and evaluative research to support the advisor tools team in optimizing the workflow of the advisor desktop experience
  • Delivering reports and findings from this research to inform the advisor workflow optimization work
• Maintaining a repository of research, environment scans, and competitive analysis regarding the use of generative AI within the workplace, by employees, advisors, agents, case managers, etc.
  • Delivering regular updates on this research to colleagues and program stakeholders

To succeed in this role, the Design Researcher should be:

• Capable of proactively identifying research and usability testing opportunities
• A skilled and engaging facilitator capable of effectively conducting moderated usability testing with a diverse range of advisor roles
• Highly skilled at both:
  • organizing, analyzing and synthesizing research findings
  • communicating complex research findings to a range of stakeholders (including executives) by crafting engaging narratives rooted on data and evidence

The successful Design Research will:

• have established themselves as a key partner to program leads, product owners and other stakeholders responsible for planning and deploying advisor tools
• be trusted to plan and implement generative and evaluative research, and deliver engaging research findings to deadline, understand and respond to stakeholder needs, and support the advisor tools initiative in meeting its key objectives
• have developed a deep working knowledge of advisor workflow, business processes, pain points
• have become a subject matter expert in the use of generative AI tools in the workplace

The key skills for the design researcher include:

• Substantial experience in
  • planning and conducting both generative and evaluative design research using interactive prototypes
  • analyzing and synthesizing large sets of research data
  • presenting research findings to senior stakeholders
• Planning and building, or collaborating with a design colleague to plan and build, Figma prototypes for usability testing
• Familiarity and some hands-on experience with a design research platform, such as usertesting.com or Maze
• Substantially contributing to and leading as needed the creation and maintenance of research roadmaps

Nice to Haves:

• Experience conducting evaluative research on generative AI tools

“Mindlance is an equal-opportunity employer. We are committed to inclusive, equitable, barrier-free recruitment and selection processes, and a work environment in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). We will be happy to work with applicants requesting accommodation at any stage of the hiring process”.