Researcher

Who is Multistudio?

At Multistudio, we're not just designing spaces-we're designing impact. As a purpose-driven, human-first design collective with five studios and one shared mission, we elevate lives through work that matters. Our strength lies in our diversity-of people, perspectives, and ideas-and our culture thrives on ownership, inclusion, and impact.

As a 100% employee-owned firm, we invest in each other because we believe great design starts with great people. Join a studio where your contributions shape our future and your voice matters.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a full-time Researcher to work in a studio-based setting based in Kansas City, MO. This position serves as a firmwide asset, and you'll conduct research activities under the supervision of the Director of Research. Your research activity will primarily focus on Research Synthesis: bridging design-based research with communication and storytelling to make Multistudio research readily accessible to both internal and external audiences.

What You'll Do

• Participate in core research activities including study design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation of findings.
• Engage data and published scholarship across multiple market sectors including architecture, branding, and city planning.
• Lead the crafting of research communication that connects study findings and design implications.
• Collaborate with the Communications team to create text and visual storytelling strategies appropriate for internal training, external industry dissemination, and client messaging.
• May represent the Multistudio research team in live presentations, as directed by Studio or Research leadership.

What You Bring

• Master's degree in design, architecture, or a social science field AND substantive experience working in a professional design setting.
• A well-qualified candidate with a PhD and no experience would be considered.
• Expertise in conducting qualitative research (ex: focus groups, interviews, ethnography).
• Comfort with basic quantitative methods (ex: calculating averages and creating graphs) will also be needed.
• Strong writing skills that convey important information that is engaging, clear, and accurate.
• Writing skills must include the ability to write for both expert and lay audiences, to use industry standard formats (ex: APA), and to read and cite credible peer-reviewed literature.
• Competence in managing multiple active projects with deadlines spread over long time frames.
• A collaborative spirit who can build relationships with project teams (locally and nationally) to cultivate trust and grow working relationships.
• A domain of research expertise, with the capacity to contribute to the design of rigorous research studies.
• While these skills will be important for success in the position, we encourage anyone passionate about design research to apply. We value hiring for a diversity of lived experience on the research team and explicitly invite applicants from historically marginalized backgrounds.

Why Join Us?

• Employee ownership: Share in the success you help create.
• Flexible work culture: A hybrid environment that supports balance.
• Purpose-driven mission: Work that makes a difference-in lives, communities, and the world around us.
• Creative community: Join a collective of people who care deeply about design, impact, and each other.

Ready design a better future, together? We'd love to hear from you.

EEO/Veterans/Disabled