Job Description

Deadline to apply: The application deadline for this role is May 2nd . After this date, we will start to review applications on a rolling basis. We’re looking forward to reading yours!

Note: Due to current IDEO policy, this role will be remote through at least October 1, 2021. However, when we return to in-person work as our default mode — which will happen no sooner than October 1, 2021 — the person in this role will be expected to work on-site in our Chicago studio. To be considered, applicants must have current U.S. work authorization.

The Role

IDEO Chicago is looking for a Senior Writer. The role is, in essence, that of a storyteller. You’ll be finding, creating, and honing narratives all over the place—from uncovering insights during research and understanding what that means for design to crafting project deliverables that anchor and inspire both our teams and our clients.

The output of every IDEO project is — in one way or another — a vision of a future that does not yet exist. The narrative and strategic clarity essential to this role will ensure that the vision delivered through our work is clear, compelling, and aligned with genuine human needs as well as our clients’ goals.

We’ve found that great Writers can come from many different backgrounds. Innumerable paths can lead here, and we’re open to—and excited about—candidates with a wide array of past roles and experiences. You might be a journalist or a brand strategist; a novelist or script writer; a teacher or an academic; a beat poet or podcaster. The most important qualification is that you’ve had professional experience connecting with people deeply; surfacing and articulating stories that can fuel design, creating strategies based on your learnings, and crafting stories, whatever their form, that stir people to action.

What It Takes

Above all else, you’re a lover of words and storytelling, an enthusiast who loves to noodle and fuss over which are the best words and how we might weave them together to tell stories that inspire and move people. You relish crafting stories that make people laugh, cry, sigh, and ponder—stories that people can feel in their bones. You are not afraid to experiment and explore new ways of crafting compelling narratives and stories—in all their forms.

You will use words to bring clarity to the intangible and humanity to the theoretical. You’ll act as a translator, working across multidisciplinary teams to establish a common language: From insight to concept, concept to reality, team to client, strategy to action, and from the language of design thinking to business and back. In short, you may find yourself helping define and crystalize everyone’s ideas through a swift few taps on the keyboard while making strategy feel more human by simplifying it into accessible language.

You’re likely a curious person who has the ability and desire to connect with and learn from people through inclusive approaches. You may not have deep qualitative research experience, but you will have a love for understanding people and what makes them tick. You’ll likely love to ask “why.” A lot.

You have the ability to digest a lot of information from different sources and make sense of it: Pulling it all together, recognizing patterns, and understanding what that means for design. You should be able to find the nugget of a compelling story and draw it out from all the clutter.

As a Senior Designer, you’ll be helping teams prioritize what’s most important and what’s not when thinking about helping our clients achieve their goals. You’ll be just as comfortable collaborating with a bunch of fellow creatives as well as even the most buttoned-up client. You will embody the power of story with everything you do, and empower your colleagues to be clear, strong, and strategic communicators in a variety of media.

In This Role, You Will

You’ll use your experience in writing or a similar role to:

• Discover, synthesize, and communicate the diverse stories and insights to inform both creative design solutions and strategic decision making
• Participate in user research with a particular focus on the stories people tell each other and themselves
• Collaborate with others in the design thinking processes and build alignment with others who may have different perspectives and information processing styles. Insights and stories are most valuable when they are produced collaboratively
• Craft deliverables (e.g., design concepts, scripts, storyboards, briefs, manifestoes, videos, handbooks, guidance documents, etc.) that inspire change and deepen the impact of our engagements
• Bring teams and clients along with you on the journey. Your job is about bringing your writing expertise, but also helping others be successful too.

What does IDEO offer you?

IDEO is a place where you can solve diverse, complex challenges alongside thoughtful, intelligent individuals who lead with curiosity, empathy, and optimism. Sure we work hard, but we also intentionally craft moments that allow our community to pause, create, and connect. We encourage our community to bring their whole selves to work, respect the need for work-life balance, and allow for autonomy in the design process and your career.

Commitment to Diversity

At IDEO, we are committed to the work of advancing diversity, equity and inclusion within our organization and in the world. Our purpose of having disproportionate, world-changing impact through design is directly connected to our ability to bring many different perspectives to the table. This applies to our candidates, the people we hire, the clients and customers we serve, and the communities we learn from in our research.

As a human-centered organization, we are committed to working with and designing for people of every race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, socio-economic status, physical ability or attribute, religion, national origin, or political belief. We recognize that this commitment requires ongoing work and sustained attention, as well as adaptation to new insights and best practices.

How To Apply

Please apply with the following:

• Resume (suggested 1 page max): Please highlight experiences related to the ‘What It Takes’ section of this job description.
• “You” in a nutshell: If you were to write a headline or tagline about yourself (think of Nike’s “Just do it” or Apple’s “Think Different”), what would it be? Feel free to add a short paragraph explaining your thinking.
• Storytelling Samples: Please include 3 examples of storytelling that you’re really proud of. These could be short films, short stories, audio recordings of your poetry, radio ads, etc—anything that shows off your writing talent! But, please include a little description of why you’re proud of that piece of work and your thought process behind it.

We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis after the application deadline.

Equal Opportunity Employer

IDEO is an equal opportunity employer; applicants are considered for all roles without regard to race, color, religious creed, sex, 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.