Co-op, Design Researcher

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Co-op, Design Researcher

Company: Fidelity Investments

Location: Boston, MA, United States

Job Type: Intern

Category: Design Research / Innovation Operations

Date Posted: 2026-06-10

Experience Level: 0-2 Years (Co-op/Intern)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Support the Fidelity Center for Applied Technology (FCAT) design team in envisioning and creating future financial experiences through speculative design and user research methodologies.

• Collaborate on the end-to-end design process, from initial ideation and conceptualization to rapid prototyping and narrative development for innovative financial services.

• Engage with emerging technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, VR, and quantum computing to shape the future of the financial services industry.

• Contribute to a culture of rapid iteration and user feedback, embracing a "bias for action" and a willingness to learn from experimentation and potential failures.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a co-op/internship, focusing on foundational design research and speculative design within a corporate innovation hub (FCAT). The emphasis is on learning, collaboration, and contributing to forward-thinking projects rather than direct revenue operations management. The "operations" aspect is primarily in the context of supporting operationalizing innovation processes.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Assist in conducting user research, including user interviews, surveys, and usability testing, to gather insights on customer needs and behaviors related to emerging financial technologies.

• Participate in brainstorming sessions and design thinking workshops to generate innovative concepts and solutions for future financial products and services.

• Develop and create multimodal outputs, such as storyboards, wireframes, mockups, and prototypes, to visualize and communicate design concepts effectively.

• Contribute to market research and competitive analysis by identifying consumer trends and evaluating competitor offerings within the financial technology landscape.

• Support the documentation and presentation of research findings, design concepts, and project outcomes to internal stakeholders, fostering a clear understanding of future possibilities.

• Collaborate with experienced designers and researchers to iterate on designs based on feedback cycles and user testing results.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the core responsibilities lean towards design and research, the emphasis on "market requirements," "customer feedback," and "competitive analysis" suggests a foundational understanding of how user insights inform product strategy, which is a key component of GTM operations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Anthropology, Sociology, or a related field.

• Demonstrated academic interest in the future of digital experiences and emerging technologies. Experience:

• Experience or strong interest in applying speculative design philosophies and design thinking methodologies.

• Familiarity with user research techniques, both qualitative and quantitative, and the ability to translate findings into actionable insights. Required Skills:

• Strong intellectual curiosity and a comfort level with ambiguity and fast-paced learning environments.

• A human-centric approach to problem-solving and design, with a passion for understanding user needs.

• Excellent critical thinking and conceptualization skills to tackle complex design challenges.

• Effective interpersonal and communication skills, essential for team collaboration and stakeholder engagement.

• Proficiency in presentation and facilitation skills, capable of conveying ideas clearly and engagingly.

• Ability to work collaboratively within a team environment and contribute to shared project goals.

• A willingness to embrace experimentation, learn from failures, and iterate rapidly on ideas. Preferred Skills:

• Proficiency with design software such as Adobe Creative Suite and Figma.

• Experience with quantitative research methods, including writing screeners and surveys for early-stage prototype testing.

• Demonstrated ability to identify latent customer needs and emerging market segments.

• Previous co-op or internship experience in a design, research, or innovation role.

• Active participation in relevant extracurricular activities or clubs that foster creativity and collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "requirements summary" highlights a need for curiosity, interest in emerging tech, and human-centric design, aligning with the broader GTM need to understand customer needs and market trends. The skills listed are foundational for any role involving understanding user behavior and translating it into product or service concepts.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a clear understanding of the design process, from research and ideation to prototyping and storytelling, even if conceptual.

• Showcase examples of how user research insights have informed design decisions or problem-solving approaches.

• Include work that illustrates an ability to conceptualize future experiences, particularly those involving emerging technologies.

• Presentation of projects that highlight collaborative efforts and communication of complex ideas. Process Documentation:

• Examples of how research findings were synthesized and communicated to stakeholders.

• Demonstration of iterative design processes, showing how feedback was incorporated.

• Any conceptual frameworks or methodologies used to approach design challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: While a formal operations portfolio isn't expected for a co-op, candidates should be prepared to discuss their design process, research methodologies, and how they approach understanding user needs, which are transferable skills to operations roles focused on process improvement and customer journey mapping.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $20 - $32 per hour

Benefits:

• Co-op/Internship program structure providing valuable work experience.

• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge innovation projects within the financial services industry.

• Exposure to advanced technologies and design methodologies.

• Mentorship and guidance from experienced design and innovation professionals.

• Potential for networking within a large, established financial institution.

Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week, consistent with a full-time co-op/internship schedule.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is typical for co-op/intern positions in major metropolitan areas like Boston. Benefits are standard for internships, focusing on experience and learning rather than traditional employee benefits. The 40-hour work week is standard for full-time roles.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services, Technology Innovation

Company Size: Fidelity Investments is a large, established financial services firm, employing tens of thousands globally. This provides a stable yet dynamic environment for innovation.

Founded: 1946 (Fidelity Investments)

Team Structure:

• The Fidelity Center for Applied Technology (FCAT) is an innovation hub within Fidelity, likely comprising specialized teams focused on different emerging technologies and design disciplines.

• This role is within the FCAT design team, which likely reports into a broader innovation or product development leadership structure.

• Collaboration is expected across FCAT teams and potentially with business units across Fidelity to pilot and scale innovations. Methodology:

• FCAT employs speculative design, design thinking, user research, and rapid prototyping as core methodologies.

• Emphasis is placed on assessing, testing, and scaling innovative concepts involving emerging technologies.

• A holistic approach to design innovation, combining creativity, strategy, and rigorous research, is a key operational tenet.

Company Website: https://www.fidelity.com/ (and https://fcatalyst.com/overview for FCAT)

📝 Enhancement Note: Fidelity Investments' culture is generally perceived as stable and professional, with a strong emphasis on client service and fiduciary responsibility. The FCAT division injects a more agile, forward-thinking, and experimental culture, focusing on innovation and rapid development, which is crucial for understanding the operational environment of this co-op role.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is an entry-level co-op/internship role, designed for individuals early in their academic and professional careers.

Reporting Structure: The co-op will report to a member of the FCAT design team, likely a Senior Designer, Design Lead, or Research Manager, who will provide guidance and mentorship.

Operations Impact: While this role is not directly managing revenue operations, the insights generated from speculative design and user research can directly influence future product development and customer experience strategies, which are foundational to revenue generation and GTM success. The team's work aims to keep Fidelity at the forefront of the industry, indirectly impacting market share and competitive positioning.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Development: Deepen understanding and practical application of speculative design, user research methodologies, and design thinking. Gain hands-on experience with emerging technologies and their potential applications in finance.

• Industry Exposure: Learn about the financial services industry and the innovation lifecycle within a large, reputable organization.

• Networking: Build relationships with professionals in design, research, and innovation, potentially leading to future opportunities.

• Portfolio Enhancement: Develop tangible project work and case studies to showcase in future job applications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path for this co-op is focused on skill acquisition and professional development within the design and innovation domain, rather than direct advancement into a revenue operations management track. However, the foundational skills in understanding user needs and market potential are highly relevant for future GTM or operations roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is on-site in Boston, MA, indicating a collaborative office environment within Fidelity's facilities.

Office Location(s): 245 Summer St, Boston, MA. This is a prime location in Boston's financial district, offering a professional and accessible workspace.

Workspace Context:

• Expect a dynamic, collaborative workspace typical of an innovation lab, encouraging interaction and idea sharing.

• Access to standard office technology and design tools will be provided.

• Opportunities for informal and formal interactions with the FCAT design team and potentially other innovation groups.

Work Schedule: Standard business hours, likely Monday through Friday, with a 40-hour work week. The schedule should accommodate design sprints, research activities, and team meetings.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in a major financial hub suggests a professional and structured work environment, albeit within an innovation-focused team. This setting is conducive to learning about corporate processes and cross-functional collaboration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and any provided portfolio or work samples to assess foundational skills and interest.

• Hiring Manager/Team Interview: This stage will likely involve discussions about your background, interest in speculative design and emerging technologies, and your understanding of human-centric design. Be prepared to discuss your thought process and how you approach problems.

• Portfolio Review/Case Study: You may be asked to present a specific project from your academic work or extracurricular activities that demonstrates your research, design, or conceptualization skills. Focus on your process, the problem you addressed, and the outcome.

• Behavioral/Team Fit Interview: Questions will assess your ability to collaborate, communicate, learn, and adapt to an innovative and potentially ambiguous environment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate 2-3 strong projects that best represent your skills in research, conceptualization, and communication.

• For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, your process (research, ideation, prototyping), the insights gained, and the final outcome or learnings.

• If you have experience with speculative design concepts or exploring future scenarios, highlight these.

• Be ready to discuss your interest in emerging technologies and how they might impact financial services. Challenge Preparation:

• While formal "operations challenges" are unlikely, be prepared for hypothetical problem-solving questions related to user needs, future trends, or design dilemmas.

• Think about how you would approach understanding a new user segment or envisioning a novel digital experience.

• Practice articulating your thought process clearly and concisely.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application process will heavily focus on design thinking, research capabilities, and creative problem-solving. While not directly operations-focused, demonstrating a structured approach to understanding problems and generating solutions is crucial for any role, including operations.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design Software: Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), Figma are preferred. Proficiency in other design and prototyping tools is beneficial.

• Research Tools: Familiarity with survey platforms (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Qualtrics) and remote user testing tools is a plus.

• Collaboration Tools: Standard office productivity suites (e.g., Microsoft Office, Google Workspace) and potential use of project management or collaboration platforms (e.g., Jira, Asana, Slack).

Analytics & Reporting:

• While direct analytics tool usage might be limited for a co-op, understanding how data informs research and design decisions is important. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this design research role, but awareness of how customer data is managed in financial services is a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack emphasizes design and research tools. While not direct operations software (like Salesforce, Marketo, etc.), proficiency in tools that facilitate data synthesis, visualization, and communication is valuable and transferable to operations contexts.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation: A commitment to exploring new ideas and technologies to drive future growth.

• Human-Centricity: Placing the customer at the core of all design and research efforts.

• Collaboration: Working together across disciplines to achieve common goals.

• Experimentation: Embracing a "fail fast" mentality to learn and iterate quickly.

• Curiosity: A continuous desire to learn, question, and explore new possibilities.

Collaboration Style:

• Expect a highly collaborative environment where team members share ideas openly and provide constructive feedback.

• Cross-functional interaction is likely with other FCAT teams and potentially business unit representatives.

• An emphasis on shared learning and collective problem-solving is encouraged.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture is described as innovative, experimental, and collaborative, which is typical for an R&D or innovation hub. This contrasts with potentially more structured operational teams, but the core values of problem-solving and customer focus are universal.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Ambiguity: Working on future-focused concepts with no defined endpoint requires comfort with uncertainty.

• Translating Vision to Reality: Bridging the gap between speculative ideas and tangible prototypes or research findings.

• Navigating a Large Organization: Understanding how innovation projects integrate with established corporate structures.

• Rapid Learning Curve: Quickly grasping new technologies and research methods.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Speculative Design Mastery: Gaining hands-on experience with advanced design research techniques.

• Emerging Tech Immersion: Deep dive into areas like AI, blockchain, and VR from a user experience perspective.

• Industry Insight: Understanding innovation drivers and challenges within the financial services sector.

• Professional Skills: Enhancing communication, presentation, and collaboration skills in a corporate setting.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges and growth opportunities are centered on innovation and design skills. For operations professionals, the key takeaway is the value placed on adaptability, continuous learning, and the ability to operate effectively in dynamic environments.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach researching the potential future needs of retail investors in 2030?" (Focus on methodology, user segmentation, and key questions to ask).

• "Describe a time you had to conceptualize an idea with limited information. What was your process?" (Highlight your structured thinking and research approach).

• "How do you ensure a human-centric approach in your design or research work?" (Discuss empathy, user feedback, and ethical considerations). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Fidelity's FCAT and its work in speculative design?" (Show you've researched the team and understand their mission).

• "How do you handle feedback on your work, especially constructive criticism?" (Demonstrate openness to iteration and learning).

• "Describe your ideal collaborative environment." (Align your answer with the team's described culture). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select projects that showcase your process, not just the final output.

• Clearly articulate the problem, your role, your methodology, key insights, and outcomes.

• Be prepared to discuss "what ifs" and how you might have approached challenges differently.

• Emphasize your ability to communicate complex ideas simply and effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating curiosity, a structured approach to problem-solving, and a collaborative spirit. While the role is design-focused, the underlying skills of analysis, synthesis, and communication are highly valued in operations.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this co-op position:

• Submit your application through the provided workdaysite.com link.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight relevant coursework, projects, and any prior internship experience in design, research, or technology. Use keywords from the job description (e.g., speculative design, user research, emerging technologies, Adobe Creative Suite, Figma).

• Portfolio Preparation: Curate a digital portfolio (e.g., PDF, personal website) showcasing 2-3 strong projects. Focus on demonstrating your research process, ideation skills, and ability to communicate concepts. Be ready to discuss your work in detail.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Fidelity Investments and specifically the Fidelity Center for Applied Technology (FCAT). Understand their mission, recent innovation projects, and the broader financial services industry.

• Interview Practice: Prepare to discuss your motivations, your understanding of speculative design and emerging tech, and how your skills align with the role. Practice articulating your thought process for hypothetical design challenges.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions tailored for a co-op design researcher role. All details should be verified directly with Fidelity Investments during the application and interview process.