dingénieur

Dingénieur is a French neologism formed from design and ingénieur. The term designates a professional who combines design thinking with engineering skills in product development. It is used primarily in francophone tech and design communities to describe roles that sit at the intersection of user experience, product design, and technical implementation. The label is informal and not tied to an official title or credential.

The origin of dingénieur is informal, emerging in startup and design-oriented discussions in recent years. There is no standard certification attached to the term, and its usage varies by company and context. The feminine form is dingénieure.

Typical duties associated with a dingénieur include translating user needs into technical specifications, creating prototypes, evaluating manufacturability, and coordinating with designers and engineers to balance aesthetics and performance. The concept is applicable in software, hardware, IoT, electronics, and industrial design contexts where multidisciplinary collaboration is essential. In practice, a dingénieur may contribute to product strategy, system architecture, or interface design while maintaining attention to feasibility and production considerations.

Critics argue that the term can be vague and overlap with established titles such as design engineer, product designer, or UX engineer. Proponents see it as a practical shorthand for cross-disciplinary roles that require both design sensitivity and technical rigor.

See also: design engineer; product designer; UX engineer; multidisciplinary engineer.