About the Role
Business Designers play a vital role in turning uncertain challenges into clear, value-driven opportunities by integrating strategy, market insight, and business modeling. They bridge the gap between creative ideas and real-world execution, guiding clients from concept to investment-ready pathways.
Responsibilities
- Generate innovative ideas, sustainable business models, compelling value propositions, and effective go-to-market strategies for new products, services, and ventures, exploring non-traditional or overlooked solutions in business settings
- Develop deep understanding of client organizations and collaborate closely with them to foster innovation and organizational change
- Perform market, competitive, and financial assessments to uncover emerging opportunities, guide decisions, shape business justifications, and build support for novel concepts
- Transform research findings, data, and insights into clear, actionable narratives that inform choices and align stakeholders
- Simplify complex challenges by designing and managing experiments or pilot programs that generate learning and inform scalable innovation plans
- Work collaboratively within cross-functional teams including design research, interaction design, data science, and communication design
- Lead client workshops and strategic discussions to build consensus, maintain progress, and support key decisions
- Advance the practice of Business Design through continuous learning, knowledge exchange, and sharing unique viewpoints across the organization
Benefits
- Vision insurance
- Dental insurance
- Healthcare coverage
- 401K plan with company match
- Parental leave policy
- Adoption support program
- Fertility treatment assistance
- Medical coverage for transgender care
- Breastmilk shipping service
- Backup dependent care support
- Pet insurance option
- Flexible work arrangements
- Flexible time-off policy
- Paid public and company holidays
- Annual stipend for education and professional development
- Stipend for home office setup
Compensation
The salary range for this position is $100,000–120,000 USD. Final offers may vary based on experience, expertise, location, and other factors. In addition to base pay, a comprehensive benefits package is provided.
Work Arrangement
Remote — Chicago
Why is this role important for IDEO’s work?
Business Designers turn ambiguous challenges into clear, actionable strategies by connecting insights to commercially viable opportunities. Their expertise in strategy, market analysis, and business modeling helps clients create and capture value, moving ideas from concept to execution and securing investment.
Key mindsets
Team members lead with curiosity and optimism; create space for authenticity and psychological safety; embrace uncertainty while delivering results; collaborate generously across disciplines; learn from setbacks and iterate; take initiative and help others succeed.
What does IDEO offer you?
Opportunity to tackle complex, diverse challenges alongside empathetic, thoughtful professionals who value curiosity and humility. The environment supports intentional connection, personal authenticity, work-life balance, and autonomy in both process and career growth. You'll work on early-stage ventures across health, finance, and technology; collaborate with a studio of creative thinkers; contribute to real-world innovation with regional partners; lead end-to-end innovation efforts; and grow leadership skills within multidisciplinary teams.
Payscale & Benefits
The salary range is $100,000–120,000 USD, with final offers depending on experience, expertise, and geography. Benefits include health coverage (vision, dental, medical), 401K matching, family and caregiving support (parental leave, adoption, fertility, transgender care, breastmilk shipping, backup care), pet insurance, flexible work and time off, paid holidays, annual education stipend, and home office stipend.
Commitment to Diversity
We are committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in our organization and through our design work. Our ability to create meaningful impact relies on bringing diverse perspectives into every project—from hiring to client collaboration to community research.
Other
- Work-life balance is prioritized
- Autonomy in design process and career development
- Opportunity to work on groundbreaking products and new ventures across sectors
- Contribute to applied innovation with Midwestern makers, healthcare leaders, financial institutions, and digital product teams
- Lead full-cycle innovation from initial insight to market launch
- Develop expertise within multidisciplinary teams and strengthen client-facing leadership
