What is a Design Researcher at Sentient Collective?

Sentient Collective is searching for an English/Japanese bilingual Design Researcher to unearth actionable insights that lead to breakthrough design solutions. The individual we are looking for will be a self starter, plays well with others, and able to work across multidisciplinary teams in an environment that thrives on creativity.

We pride ourselves on creating products and experiences which make a real positive impact in people’s lives. However these products and experiences cannot be created without a deep understanding and empathy for the people we create them for. Design Researchers are our compass at sea, helping us and our clients navigate through the dark, and our anchor for all phases of the design process.

Why work at Sentient Collective?

At Sentient Collective, we create beautiful experiences through design, regardless of discipline. Beautiful experiences are not just visual, but an intentional mix of sensory experiences and ideas. We don’t simply create concepts. We work with our clients to bring actual products and services to market from start to end.

Once here you will

• Design and create research plans for projects including discussion guides, analogous experience preparation and planning, outsourcing necessary extra talent (film production, etc), screeners, sacrificial concepts, etc.

• Execute qualitative research and function as a guide able to lead Sentient Collective and it’s clients through a sea of ambiguity on a road to innovation.

• Uncover and distill insights, and synthesize them into tangible points that lead to implementable design solutions.

• Visualize and communicate these insights and their relevance through storytelling, presentation, and various other forms of interaction.

• Help communicate these insights, their importance, and their implications to our clients, while working as a bridge between our clients and their consumers.

About you

Communication: Strong Japanese and English verbal and written skills are a must. Ability to synthesize research findings, and then uncover and communicate insights that will inform and inspire the rest of the design process.

Experience: 3 to 5 years experience conducting qualitative research in Japan and navigating the unknown.

Multicultural mindset: You can work flexibly with a multicultural team, and are able to help bridge the gaps between Japanese and other mindsets. At times you may be required to brainstorm and strategize with teams in English and then debrief and unpack insights and findings with clients in Japanese.

Self starter: Comfortable in working in ambiguity and able to be self driven and guiding.

Compassion: You are passionate about creating new and user centered experiences that elevate the quality of human life, and you do this with compassion for those who you are problem solving for.

Data fluent: Fluent in quantitative and qualitative research methods, you are able to analyze, digest, and present data in order to support the design process.

Storytelling: You are able to use the tools at your disposal to craft and tell stories that captivate audiences and make them feel like they are in the shoes of the subject.

Culture: Play, curiosity, and fun are core parts of the design process. You embrace this and are open to new techniques and ways of working.

Some previous projects to check out

SALUS

Want to join our team?

Please send us an email with your cover letter, resume, portfolio, and answer to the following questions to join@wearesentient.org.

1.) Please tell us of a time in which you were stuck during research. Where did you look for inspiration and what methods did you use/invent/improvise to get yourself and your team unstuck? How did this inform the design process and what were your biggest takeaways?

2.) If you were asked to help design a new and innovative hospital concept for the global market, what types of people, places, and/or things would you use for design inspiration in Japan?

Please tell us 2 examples (people, places, or things) that you believe can inform or inspire the design of this new hospital concept. These examples do not need to be within the medical industry. Please provide a written explanation of why you are inspired by these examples in both Japanese and English, along with a visual aid (this can be anything of your choice; photos, videos, etc).

We will contact applicants who we would like to speak further with within 2 weeks.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Sentient Collective is an equal opportunity employer; applicants are considered for all roles without regard to race, color, religious creed, sex, gender, national origin, citizenship status, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, marital, parental, veteran or military status, unfavorable military discharge, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law.