Interaction Design Researcher (temporary 12 months)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Interaction Design Researcher (Temporary 12 Months)

Company: The LEGO Group

Location: London, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-time, Temporary

Category: User Research / Interaction Design

Date Posted: 2025-08-05

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on driving user research initiatives within a development team to inform the creation of new digital and interactive play experiences.

• The Interaction Design Researcher will leverage human insights, quantitative research, and data analysis to support the entire innovation journey, from opportunity identification to go-to-market strategies.

• A key aspect of this position is executing a broad range of research methodologies, including qualitative co-creation sessions and quantitative surveys, to ensure the "Desirability" of new LEGO products.

• The researcher will act as a critical link between user needs and product strategy, synthesizing diverse data sources to craft actionable insight narratives that influence product and marketing decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title suggests a focus on interaction design, the responsibilities clearly indicate a broader user research role with a strong emphasis on mixed-methods, product innovation, and strategic insight generation, particularly within the digital and gaming space. The "temporary 12 months" nature suggests a project-based need for specialized research expertise.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the learning and experimentation agenda for a new physical/digital play proposition, closely collaborating with design, UX, platform, and engineering teams to define research priorities and execute agile research activities.

• Design, manage, facilitate, and analyze both qualitative and quantitative research studies conducted in-house, demonstrating proficiency across a range of research methods.

• Spearhead the "Desirability" of new products by deeply embedding consumer insights, including needs, attitudes, behaviors, perceptions, and willingness to pay (WTP), into product and marketing strategies.

• Apply Design Thinking principles to identify risky assumptions, formulate testable hypotheses, utilize key metrics, and conduct "in-market" experiments to validate product concepts and features.

• Synthesize insights from diverse data sources, including market trends, customer feedback, app analytics, and sales data, to build a comprehensive understanding of the target user and market landscape.

• Craft and deliver compelling, clear insight narratives that effectively communicate findings to stakeholders, driving actionable decisions and strategic adjustments in product development and marketing efforts.

• Utilize a strategic mindset and data-driven decision-making approach to identify and quantify innovation opportunities, formulate robust product strategies, and define key value propositions for new play experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a proactive and end-to-end research role, requiring the candidate to not only conduct research but also to define the research strategy and translate findings into strategic recommendations. The emphasis on "Desirability" and "Design Thinking Experimentation" points to a need for a researcher who can influence product direction and validate hypotheses with data.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Anthropology, Sociology, Market Research, Design Research, or a related field is typically expected for this type of role.

Experience: 2-5 years of relevant experience in user research, UX research, or product research, with a demonstrated track record of applying research insights to product development and strategy. Experience within the digital, gaming, or toy industry is highly advantageous.

Required Skills:

• UX/UI Design Research: Proven ability to conduct user research methods (e.g., user interviews, usability testing, heuristic evaluations, journey mapping) to inform UX/UI design.

• Digital/Interactive Technology and/or Gaming: Deep understanding and experience researching digital products, interactive technologies, or video games, including player behavior and engagement.

• Product/Service Innovation & Experience: Experience supporting the innovation lifecycle, from ideation and concept validation to iterative development and launch, focusing on enhancing user experience.

• Design Thinking Experimentation: Proficiency in identifying critical assumptions, formulating hypotheses, designing experiments, and using metrics to validate product concepts and drive iterative development.

• Data Synthesis & Analysis: Ability to effectively synthesize and analyze data from multiple sources, including qualitative feedback, quantitative surveys, analytics data, and market trends.

• Insight Communication: Strong skills in crafting compelling narratives and presenting clear, actionable insights to diverse stakeholders, influencing product and business decisions.

• Strategic Mindset & Data-Driven Decisions: Capacity to apply research findings to strategic planning, opportunity sizing, and defining key value propositions based on data and user insights.

• Mixed-Methods Research: Expertise in designing and executing both qualitative (e.g., interviews, focus groups, co-creation sessions) and quantitative (e.g., surveys, analytics analysis) research studies.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with A/B testing and other experimental design techniques in a product context.

• Familiarity with agile development methodologies and integrating research into agile sprints.

• Proficiency in statistical analysis tools or platforms for quantitative data.

• Experience working with children and understanding child development in relation to play and technology.

• Knowledge of the toy industry and the digital play landscape.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "2-5 years" experience level aligns with a Mid-Level researcher who can independently manage research projects but may still benefit from guidance on highly complex strategic initiatives. The emphasis on "in-house" research suggests a need for strong project management and execution skills.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies: Demonstrating end-to-end research projects from problem definition through to actionable insights and impact on product development. Specific examples of how research influenced design or strategy are crucial.

• Methodology Showcase: Highlighting proficiency across a range of qualitative and quantitative research methods relevant to digital products and interactive experiences.

• Data Synthesis Examples: Visualizations or summaries showing how diverse data sources (user interviews, surveys, analytics) were integrated to form a cohesive understanding.

• Actionable Insights: Clear articulation of insights derived from research and how these insights translated into concrete product recommendations or strategic shifts.

• Impact Measurement: Evidence of how research contributed to measurable outcomes, such as improved user satisfaction, increased engagement, or validation of product-market fit.

Process Documentation:

• Research Planning: Examples of research plans outlining objectives, methodologies, participant recruitment strategies, and timelines.

• Data Collection & Analysis: Documentation of the process for collecting and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data, including any tools or frameworks used.

• Insight Synthesis & Reporting: Examples of how findings were synthesized into reports, presentations, or other formats for stakeholder consumption.

• Experimentation Frameworks: Examples of hypotheses, experimental designs, and metrics used to test product assumptions and drive iterative improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: For this role, a portfolio should emphasize the researcher's ability to integrate insights into the fast-paced, iterative nature of product development, particularly for digital and interactive experiences. Demonstrating the ability to manage research independently and communicate effectively with cross-functional teams will be key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a temporary Interaction Design Researcher with 2-5 years of experience in London, UK, a competitive salary range would typically fall between £45,000 - £65,000 per annum, depending on the specific skill set, depth of experience, and the project's scope.

Benefits:

• Family Care Leave: Enhanced paid leave options for family-related needs.

• Insurances: Comprehensive life and disability insurance coverage.

• Wellbeing Resources: Access to benefits and resources supporting physical and mental wellbeing, community building, and creativity.

• Colleague Discount: Generous discount on LEGO products from day one.

• Bonus Scheme: Eligibility for a bonus based on achieved team and company goals.

• Hybrid Work Policy: An average of 3 days per week in the office, with the specific policy and role eligibility to be discussed during recruitment.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are likely to be around 40 hours per week, typical for a full-time role. The hybrid nature of the work may offer some flexibility in scheduling, but core hours for collaboration are expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on industry benchmarks for similar research roles in London, UK, considering the specified experience level and the temporary nature of the contract. The benefits package reflects what is commonly offered by large, established companies like The LEGO Group.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: The LEGO Group operates within the Toy Manufacturing and Entertainment industry, with significant expansion into digital and interactive play experiences. This context means the company culture blends traditional play-focused innovation with modern digital development approaches.

Company Size: The LEGO Group is a large, global organization. This size implies structured processes, opportunities for cross-functional collaboration, and access to significant resources, but also a need for clear communication and adaptability within a large framework. For operations professionals, this means working within established systems while contributing to new initiatives.

Founded: Founded in 1932, The LEGO Group has a long history and a strong brand legacy built on creativity, quality, and play. This history fosters a culture that values long-term vision, innovation, and a deep understanding of its core audience – children.

Team Structure:

• The researcher will likely be embedded within a dedicated product development or innovation team, working alongside UX/UI designers, product managers, engineers, and potentially marketing specialists.

• The team structure will be cross-functional, requiring close collaboration and communication to integrate research findings seamlessly into the product development lifecycle.

Methodology:

• Data Analysis & Insights: The team likely employs a data-driven approach, combining qualitative user feedback with quantitative analytics to inform decisions. Emphasis is placed on understanding user behavior and preferences to ensure product "Desirability."

• Workflow Planning & Optimization: Research activities are integrated into agile development sprints, requiring researchers to be adaptable and efficient in planning and executing studies to meet project timelines.

• Automation & Efficiency: While not explicitly mentioned for this role, the broader company likely leverages automation and efficient processes to support large-scale product development and research operations.

Company Website: https://www.lego.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The LEGO Group's culture is deeply rooted in its mission to inspire children. This translates into a work environment that values creativity, collaboration, and a user-centric approach, especially for roles like this that directly impact product development. Understanding this core mission is key for candidates.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a Mid-Level (2-5 years of experience) within the User Research or UX discipline. It offers the opportunity to take ownership of research projects for a specific product proposition, contributing directly to strategic decisions.

Reporting Structure: The Interaction Design Researcher will likely report to a senior member of the product development team, such as a Lead UX Researcher, Research Manager, or Product Lead. This structure provides mentorship while allowing for significant autonomy in research execution.

Operations Impact: The researcher's impact is directly tied to ensuring the "Desirability" and user-centricity of new LEGO digital and interactive play experiences. By providing critical insights into user needs and preferences, this role influences product strategy, design iterations, and ultimately, the success of new product launches in the market.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in digital play research, interaction design research, or specific methodologies like mixed-methods or experimental design.

• Skill Development: Enhance skills in data synthesis, strategic insight communication, and influencing cross-functional teams. Potential for learning new research tools and techniques used by the LEGO Group.

• Leadership Potential: For exceptional performance, there may be opportunities to lead research for larger projects, mentor junior researchers, or transition into more senior research or product strategy roles within the company or its broader divisions. The temporary nature could lead to a permanent role or further project opportunities.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a strong stepping stone for a researcher looking to gain experience in a globally recognized brand focused on innovation. The temporary contract offers flexibility and the potential to prove oneself for longer-term opportunities within The LEGO Group's expanding digital initiatives.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The LEGO Group typically operates modern, collaborative office spaces designed to foster creativity and teamwork. These environments are often equipped with resources for brainstorming, prototyping, and user testing.

Office Location(s): The primary location is London Hub. Billund, Denmark, is also mentioned as a possibility. For London, this would likely mean a well-connected, central office location within the city, facilitating easy access for employees and potential user recruitment.

Workspace Context:

• Collaboration: Expect a highly collaborative environment where interaction with designers, product managers, engineers, and other researchers is frequent and encouraged.

• Tools & Technology: Access to standard office productivity tools, specialized UX research software, and potentially dedicated spaces or equipment for conducting user sessions.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities to engage with the broader product development team, participate in cross-functional meetings, and contribute to team ideation sessions. The hybrid model means regular in-person interaction on designated office days.

Work Schedule: The role follows a hybrid work schedule, requiring an average of 3 days per week in the office. This provides a balance between focused, independent work and collaborative team engagement. Specific days in the office will likely be coordinated within the team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work model is a key aspect of the work environment. Candidates should be comfortable balancing remote work with in-office collaboration, understanding that the 3-day office requirement is designed to facilitate team cohesion and project alignment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a brief call with an HR representative or recruiter to assess basic qualifications, interest, and fit.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A more in-depth discussion with the hiring manager (e.g., Research Lead, UX Manager) focusing on experience, skills, and understanding of research methodologies. This may include behavioral questions.

• Portfolio Presentation/Case Study: A critical stage where candidates present their work. This typically involves showcasing 1-2 relevant research projects, detailing the problem, methodology, insights, and impact. Be prepared to discuss your role, challenges, and how you made decisions.

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Interviews with other team members (designers, product managers, engineers) to assess collaboration skills, communication style, and how well you integrate into the team dynamics.

• Final Interview (Optional): May involve a senior leader or a more strategic discussion about the role and your potential contributions.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 2-3 projects that best showcase your mixed-methods expertise, impact on product strategy, and ability to work within an innovation context.

Prioritize projects related to digital products or interactive experiences.

• Structure for Clarity: For each project, clearly outline:

  • The Challenge: What was the business or user problem?
  • Your Role: What specific research activities did you lead or contribute to?
  • Methodology: Why did you choose your research methods? How did you execute them?
  • Insights: What were the key findings?
  • Impact: How did your insights influence product decisions, design iterations, or strategy? Quantify impact where possible.

• Highlight Process: Demonstrate your thinking process – how you identified assumptions, formed hypotheses, and navigated challenges.

• Tailor to LEGO: If possible, subtly tailor your presentation to reflect an understanding of LEGO's brand, focus on play, and digital innovation.

Challenge Preparation:

• Hypothetical Scenario: Be prepared for a hypothetical research challenge or a request to critique a research approach. Think about how you would approach designing a research plan for a new LEGO digital experience.

• Problem-Solving: Practice articulating how you would tackle ambiguous problems or situations where data is incomplete.

• Stakeholder Communication: Prepare examples of how you communicate complex research findings to non-expert audiences and how you manage differing opinions or priorities among stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio presentation is often the most crucial part of the interview process for research roles. Candidates should practice their presentation thoroughly, focusing on storytelling and demonstrating their strategic thinking and impact.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• User Research Platforms: Tools for usability testing, participant recruitment, and remote moderation (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze, UserZoom).

• Survey Tools: Platforms for designing and distributing surveys and analyzing responses (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Qualtrics, Google Forms).

• Analytics Platforms: Familiarity with web analytics (e.g., Google Analytics) or product analytics tools (e.g., Mixpanel, Amplitude) to interpret user behavior data.

• Prototyping Tools: While not a design role, understanding tools like Figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch can be helpful for reviewing prototypes and discussing design implications.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Visualization Tools: Experience with tools like Tableau, Power BI, or even advanced Excel for presenting quantitative findings and creating dashboards.

• Statistical Software: Proficiency in tools like SPSS, R, or Python for statistical analysis of quantitative data is a plus.

• Spreadsheet Software: Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets for data manipulation and analysis.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: While not directly managing a CRM, understanding how customer data is stored and accessed (e.g., Salesforce) can be beneficial for context.

• Collaboration Tools: Proficiency in tools like Microsoft Teams, Slack, Jira, Confluence for team communication, project management, and documentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "in-house" research suggests the candidate will be hands-on with a variety of tools. A strong foundation in qualitative research platforms and survey tools is essential, with bonus points for experience in product analytics and data visualization.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Curiosity: A deep-seated curiosity about people and their motivations, driving the desire to uncover user needs and behaviors.

• Collaboration: A strong emphasis on working together across disciplines to achieve shared goals, valuing diverse perspectives.

• User-Centricity: Placing the user, particularly children, at the heart of all decision-making and product development processes.

• Data-Driven: A commitment to using data and insights to inform strategy and validate hypotheses, ensuring decisions are grounded in evidence.

• Creativity & Playfulness: Embracing creativity and a playful approach to problem-solving, aligning with the LEGO brand's core identity.

• Impact-Oriented: A focus on delivering tangible results and ensuring that research efforts lead to meaningful improvements in products and user experiences.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Researchers are expected to work closely with designers, product managers, engineers, and marketers, acting as a bridge between user needs and business objectives.

• Process Review & Feedback: A culture that encourages constructive feedback on research plans, methodologies, and findings to continually improve the research process and outputs.

• Knowledge Sharing: Active participation in sharing insights, best practices, and learnings across teams to foster a collective understanding of the user and market.

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding and aligning with The LEGO Group's core values, particularly those related to children, creativity, and collaboration, will be crucial for success in this role and for fitting into the team culture.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Speed and Rigor: The agile development environment requires researchers to deliver insights quickly without sacrificing the quality and rigor of their methods.

• Integrating Physical and Digital: Researching experiences that blend physical and digital components can be complex, requiring innovative approaches to capture holistic user interactions.

• Diverse Stakeholder Needs: Managing the expectations and priorities of various stakeholders (design, product, engineering, marketing) and ensuring research efforts align with overall business goals.

• Measuring Impact: Clearly demonstrating the ROI and impact of research activities on product success and business outcomes.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Gaining hands-on experience with a wide range of research tools and techniques in a professional product development setting.

• Industry Exposure: Learning about the dynamics of the digital play and toy industry from a leading global brand.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Developing stronger stakeholder management and communication skills by working with diverse teams.

• Mentorship: Potential for guidance from experienced researchers and product development professionals within The LEGO Group.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique opportunity to tackle the challenges of researching innovative play experiences at the intersection of physical and digital, providing significant learning and development in a dynamic environment.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Operations Strategy: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach building a research roadmap for a new product initiative, prioritizing key questions and hypotheses. How would you balance foundational research with generative and evaluative research?

• Stakeholder Management: Describe a time you had to influence a team or stakeholder with your research findings, especially when they were resistant. How do you ensure your research aligns with product strategy and business objectives?

• Problem-Solving: Walk through a complex research problem you faced, detailing your approach to defining the problem, selecting methods, and deriving actionable insights. How do you handle ambiguity or unexpected research outcomes?

Company & Culture Questions:

• Company Research: Demonstrate an understanding of The LEGO Group's mission, values, and recent digital initiatives. Familiarize yourself with their target audience and the competitive landscape of digital play.

• Team Dynamics: Discuss your preferred collaboration style. How do you contribute to a positive and productive team environment? How do you handle differing opinions within a team?

• Impact Measurement: Be ready to discuss how you measure the success of your research initiatives and how you communicate the value of user research to different audiences.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Frame your portfolio projects as compelling stories with a clear narrative arc: problem, approach, findings, and impact.

• Visuals: Use clear, concise visuals (screenshots, charts, personas, journey maps) to illustrate your points and make your presentation engaging.

• Conciseness: Practice your presentation to ensure it fits within the allotted time, focusing on the most impactful aspects of your work. Be prepared to go deeper on specific areas if asked.

• Q&A Readiness: Anticipate questions about your methodologies, decisions, and the impact of your work. Be ready to elaborate on your thought process and defend your choices.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating not just research skills, but also strategic thinking, communication prowess, and a genuine passion for understanding users, particularly in the context of play and digital innovation.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Interaction Design Researcher position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the LEGO Careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight research projects relevant to digital products, interactive experiences, or innovation. Showcase your mixed-methods proficiency and ability to translate insights into actionable product recommendations.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your experience with UX/UI design research, Design Thinking, data synthesis, and insight communication. Use keywords from the job description and quantify your achievements whenever possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on clear storytelling, demonstrating your research process, and articulating the impact of your work. Prepare to discuss your experience with the specific tools and methodologies mentioned.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research The LEGO Group's mission, values, and recent product developments, especially in the digital space. Understand their commitment to children's rights and play.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with The LEGO Group hiring organization before making application decisions.