Design Researcher - Better By Design in Dublin | National College of Art & Design Jobs

OASIS Group; Place; Sur place; EUR 40 000 - 55 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

A leading design research organization seeks a Design Researcher to lead innovative research projects in healthcare. The ideal candidate will have a PhD in design or a related field and strong skills in qualitative and quantitative research methods. Responsibilities include developing design methodologies and overseeing applied projects. This role offers mentorship opportunities and the chance to influence healthcare design positively.

Prestations

Professional development opportunities

Collaborative working environment

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent professional experience in design, health sciences, or a related discipline.
• Experience in conducting applied interdisciplinary research.
• Ability to manage and deliver research projects.

Responsabilités

• Lead specified design-led research programs.
• Oversee applied design projects in healthcare settings.
• Develop methodologies for measuring design impact.

Connaissances

Interdisciplinary research

Qualitative research methods

Quantitative research methods

Communication skills

Stakeholder engagement

Formation

PhD in design or related field

Outils

Adobe Creative Suite

Figma

Miro

Description du poste

Overview

NCAD, changing the world through bold and curious thinking, making and doing. The National College of Art & Design is Ireland’s leading provider of art and design education. Our campus on Thomas Street in Dublin’s historic city centre is home to a student population of 1,900 full and part-time students engaged in a wide range of study and research across the disciplines of Art, Design, Education and Visual Culture.

Description

Post Title: Design Researcher - Better By Design

Grade: IUA Post-Doctoral Researcher Level 1

School/Unit: School of Design

Post Duration: 1 year, commencing January 2026

Contract Type: Specified purpose appointment dedicated to the “Better by Design” research collaboration between HSE Spark and NCAD DesignLabs Health

Reports to: Head of Department of Product Design

This salary is due to increase by 1% effective February 2026 and will be subject to any future public sector pay increases.

Hours of work: FTE 1 - Working hours will be 35 hours per week (net of rest breaks)

Background

“Better by Design: A HSE Spark X NCAD DesignLabs Health Collaboration” is a two-year research initiative established to advance the role of design within healthcare. The collaboration will focus on embedding and advancing design-led research within healthcare through a programme of applied projects, capacity-building, and knowledge generation.

Role Description

The Design Researcher will play a key role in shaping and delivering research within the Better by Design research initiative, working closely with the Principal Investigator and HSE Spark. The role involves balancing academic research with design practice, contributing to design-led projects in healthcare settings and generating evidence of their impact through research and evaluation. The researcher will collaborate with HSE Spark teams, healthcare professionals, and other stakeholders to co-design, prototype, and evaluate design-led interventions, while disseminating impact through research outputs, publications, events, and public engagement. This position provides an opportunity to advance and apply expertise in design research for health within an interdisciplinary environment. The role is based in the Product Design Department at NCAD and operates under the supervision of the Principal Investigator.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead and execute a specified programme of design-led research and scholarship under the direction of the Principal Investigator.
• Contribute to and, where appropriate, oversee applied design projects within healthcare settings.
• Develop and optimise design methodologies and tools to support effective adoption in healthcare settings.
• Develop and advance frameworks for evaluating and measuring the impact of design in healthcare.
• Actively contribute to team meetings, workshops, and knowledge exchange activities, fostering a collaborative and innovative research culture.
• Engage in professional development opportunities to maintain and expand expertise in design research and healthcare innovation.
• Contribute to broader research, scholarship, and dissemination activities within NCAD DesignLabs and the institution.
• Mentor and support junior researchers, research assistants, and postgraduate students within the Better by Design collaboration.
• Carry out administrative work related to your programme of research.
• Prepare peer-reviewed publications and contribute to project report writing to relevant funders, partners and government agencies as necessary.
• Present research findings and project insights at local, national, and international venues, including community forums, academic conferences, and policy workshops.
• Contribute to the preparation of research grant proposals.
• Undertake any other reasonable duties as required by the Principal Investigator.

Selection Criteria

Selection criteria outline the qualifications, skills, knowledge, and experience required to successfully fulfil the responsibilities of the post. Applications will be assessed on how well candidates meet these criteria.

• A PhD (or equivalent professional experience) in design, design research, social sciences, health sciences, human-computer interaction, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience in conducting applied, interdisciplinary, or design-informed research.
• Proven ability to plan, manage, and deliver research projects to completion.
• Strong skills in qualitative and quantitative research methods, evaluation, and evidence generation.
• Ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, including healthcare professionals and stakeholders.
• Evidence of research outputs such as peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, or design-led artefacts.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with experience disseminating research through public engagement.
• Strong interpersonal skills and experience engaging with diverse stakeholders, demonstrating an awareness and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion practices.
• Demonstrable record of developing successful research funding applications and/or industry or public sector partnerships.
• Experience in developing and applying evaluation frameworks for measuring the impact of applied design research.
• Experience working within healthcare or public service contexts, with an understanding of system-level challenges and opportunities for design-led innovation.
• Evidence of mentoring or supporting early-career researchers, students, or collaborators.
• Experience leading or contributing to publications, toolkits, or resources aimed at translating research into practice.
• Experience contributing to knowledge exchange or public engagement activities that communicate research to non-academic audiences.
• Proficiency in relevant design or research tools (e.g. Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, Miro).

National College of Art & Design is an Equal Opportunity Employer