Dacia appoints new VP of Design
Experienced Renault designer David Durand takes on a new role at Dacia, replacing Miles Nürnberger, who departs after less than a year in the role
David Durand has been appointed vice president of design at Dacia. An experienced head who has held various positions at Renault over the past couple of decades, Durand brings a wealth of global design expertise to the table, having worked at sites in Europe, South Korea and Brazil during his time with the French automaker.
Serving most recently as Dacia’s exterior design director, Durand had a hand in the Bigster concept, a bulky SUV destined for series production in 2024, which the brand says will epitomise its new design direction moving forward. Precise lines, flared arches and a boxy greenhouse are in stark contrast to some of the less aggressive traits seen with earlier models.
Speaking with Car Design News, Durand explained that the aim is to capitalise on Dacia’s design DNA: “Robust, simple, spacious and easy-to-use vehicles.” These pillars, he says, will continue to define the brand’s design direction moving forward. Durand adds that Dacia is generally looking to attract the outdoorsy type, with the vehicle a means of ”getting around, exploring and getting away.”
Durand credits his past experience in different design houses for developing a unique approach to vehicle design. ”In 25 years, I have had the chance to live multiple experiences in the world and to be involved in different type of projects dedicated for production cars or in prospective subjects. These experiences have allowed me to meet different cultures and to confront myself with the particularities of very different automotive markets,” he explains. ”I integrate this wealth of knowledge into my approach so as not to design standard vehicles or those that resemble others. I try to remain a designer who keeps his eyes open to other ways of experiencing the automobile.”
He adds that his eclectic mix of interests - ranging from architecture and motorcycles to sailing - remains a heavy influence on his approach to vehicle design. Importantly, he says, this results in cars that break the mould: ”To find inspiration, if you only look for it in the universe in which you work, you run the risk of going round in circles very quickly.”
Commenting on the move, Laurens van den Acker, EVP design for Renault Group, said: “I look forward to working with David to meet the mobility challenges of tomorrow. His creativity, experience and sense of innovation are widely recognised, both within our management and in the automotive industry.”
It was the briefest of tenures for departing head of design, Miles Nürnberger, who took on the role in June 2021. A longstanding designer with Aston Martin and preciously holding roles at Citroen and Ford, Nürnberger will leave Dacia to pursue other professional projects. It has been something of a carousel for the top design job at Dacia, with Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos also moving elsewhere in June 2021 after just eight months in the role.
There has been plenty of chopping and changing within the automotive design community over the last couple of years, with a round of musical chairs taking place among senior designers across the Volkswagen Group, Renault, JLR and various others.
Elsewhere, Dacia’s parent company, Renault, will reveal a new hydrogen-powered concept car at the ChangeNow summit on 19 May.