The car industry and the way in which cars are created have changed
beyond all recognition over the last half-century. Automotive
styling was once the grudging afterthought when the engineers had
finished their work. Now, following a short flirtation with exotic
Italian design houses, it has evolved into sophisticated design
carried out by multitalented in-house teams honing carefully
crafted brand identities. One of the visionary designers at the
forefront of that revolution has been Patrick le Quement. Most
widely acclaimed for his 22 years in charge of Renault Design,
resulting in such standout models as the Twingo, Scenic and
Avantime, le Quement has enjoyed a 50-year career that has also
taken in Simca, Ford and Volkswagen-Audi. In his foreword to the
book, Stephen Bayley calls le Quement `perhaps the very most
original designer working in the conservative car business at the
turn of the millennium'. Some 60 million cars across the world now
bear the unmistakable stamp of le Quement. Design: Between the
Lines is not a straightforward autobiography; rather, le Quement
charts his journey through five decades of thoughts, actions,
failures and successes. He offers fascinating commentaries on
design and the creative process, and on some of the extraordinary
automotive brands that make up our shared cultural heritage. As
Bayley notes, for le Quement, design is `as much a matter of
thinking as a matter of drawing'. On a broader, more philosophical
level, le Quement also shares his views about life in general and
that remarkable contraption called `the automobile', which has so
influenced the lives of millions of people the world over from the
late 1800s to the present day. Presented as a series of 50 brief
essays or `perspectives', le Quement's thoughtful and astute
observations from the street, from the design studio and from his
seat in the boardroom give the reader a penetrating and often
amusing insight into the high-level workings of a global industry,
its triumphs and tragedies, and the foibles of the decision-makers
responsible for running it. A lively complementary text by the
automotive journalist Stephane Geffray accompanies each of le
Quement's perspectives, and illustrations are provided by the
automobile designer Gernot Bracht. Design: Between the Lines will
appeal to all motoring fans and enthusiasts of good design. As
Chris Bangle, the former Director of BMW Design, remarks: `Few car
designers have had a career so filled with innovative successes
that they have inspired a whole industry; fewer still have the
skills to share it. Engaging and revealing, Patrick relates his
personal experience and deep knowledge of car design in a very
enjoyable manner.'
General
Imprint: |
Merrell Publishers Ltd
|
Country of origin: |
United Kingdom |
Release date: |
August 2019 |
Authors: |
Patrick Le Quement
|
Foreword by: |
Stephen Bayley
|
Contributors: |
Stephane Geffray
|
Illustrators: |
Gernot Bracht
|
Dimensions: |
256 x 212 x 28mm (L x W x T) |
Format: |
Hardcover
|
Pages: |
224 |
ISBN-13: |
978-1-85894-676-4 |
Categories: |
Books
|
LSN: |
1-85894-676-X |
Barcode: |
9781858946764 |
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