Design Researcher - Human

Overview

At Corgan we are passionate about great design. We are also passionate about great people, whether they’reclients, consultants, or coworkers. 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 strength lies in our people, and those people consistently exceed expectations.

We are actively recruiting a Design Researcher to join our Hugo team. Hugo is Corgan’s Research and Innovation team, exploring human behaviour, emerging technologies, and the built environment to uncover new ways to improve experiences and shape the future of architectural design. As a Design Researcher, you will work under the direction of Hugo leadership to plan and execute research that uncovers meaningful insights into how people experience the built environment.

Working alongside design teams and clients, you will translate those insights into strategies, recommendations, and innovative solutions that create lasting value for our clients, projects and the future of design.

What You’ll Do:

• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, including designers, engineers, clients, stakeholders, and subject matter experts to investigate design challenges and develop evidence-based solutions.
• Plan and conduct qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research using appropriate methodologies such as interviews, surveys, workshops, behavioral observation, behavior mapping, contextual inquiry, environmental assessments, space syntax analysis, literature reviews, and other research approaches.
• Analyze and synthesize research findings into clear insights and actionable recommendations that inform design strategies, planning decisions, and client deliverables.
• Identify emerging trends, technologies, industry challenges, and future opportunities that shape Hugo's research agenda while creating value for clients, projects, and the firm.
• Explore and connect complex ideas across disciplines, and apply critical thinking to develop innovative approaches, tools, frameworks, and solutions that advance the future of design.
• Apply research insights to inform design strategies, prototypes, proof-of-concepts, and other innovations that improve the performance and human experience of the built environment.
• Facilitate research activities, visioning workshops, stakeholder engagement sessions, and user testing to support project and client objectives.
• Contribute to publications, conference presentations, and thought leadership initiatives that clarify complex ideas and advance Hugo’s research and innovation practice.
• Help evolve Hugo's research methods, tools, and knowledge base while supporting the integration of evidence-based design across the firm.
• Build relationships with external partners, academic institutions, and industry organizations to support collaborative research initiatives.
• Manage multiple research efforts simultaneously while meeting project schedules and deliverable expectations.

What you'll bring

• 5–10 years of experience in design research required, with experience in the architecture, interior design, or related built-environment industry. A professional degree in architecture, interior design, or similar design field is desirable.
• Professional degree with a focus on Design Research, Design and Environmental Analysis, Human-Centered Design, Environmental Psychology, Social Sciences, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience designing and conducting qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research, with the ability to develop creative research approaches to complex challenges.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to organize, interpret, and synthesize complex information into meaningful insights and practical recommendations.
• Excellent written, verbal, and visual communication skills, with the ability to translate research findings and design ideas for diverse audiences.
• Passionate about creating successful user experiences within the built environment and possess a “curiosity-first