Julien Renault

Julien Renault: Between pragmatism and intuition

Julien Renault and his Layout collection

French designer Julien Renault strives to combine rational clarity with artistic freedom in his work. Having grown up near Paris, he studied industrial design at the ESAD Design & Art School in Reims and at the renowned ECAL in Switzerland. These different educational backgrounds have shaped his approach: Renault combines systematic, objective thinking with a personal, intuitive approach to design.

Today, Renault works from his studio in Brussels, developing products for international brands. He is particularly interested in the relationship between an object and its surroundings. Renault is convinced that objects influence our everyday lives, even on a subconscious level. Accordingly, he seeks design solutions that integrate naturally into different contexts whilst retaining their own distinct character. He finds inspiration in everyday life – seemingly ordinary things are to be enhanced through well-considered details.

For the Danish manufacturer Hay Renault designed, amongst other things, the Layout collection. This versatile range of chairs combines a clear, functional design language with a high degree of adaptability. By combining an ergonomic seat shell with different frames, materials and upholstery options, the collection offers numerous variations for both private and public spaces.

Since September 2023, the designer – who was named Belgian Designer of the Year in 2023 – has also been sharing his expertise as a lecturer in Industrial Product Design on the Master’s programme at La Cambre Art School in Brussels.