Design Between The Lines
Through a series of anecdotes and musings, Patrick le Quément’s autobiographical account not only entertains, but teaches valuable lessons.
Autobiographies are a treacherous issue. They are particularly prone to turning out either insignificant and hence dull, or bombastic and therefore self-congratulatory. In either case, the reader more often than not gains little from having made it through all the pages.
For Patrick le Quément’s autobiography to turn out bombastic would not necessitate much in the way of inflating the man’s career and achievements. There are very few people who either know about car design or are part of this industry themselves that would not agree that his role in automotive design of the past few decades has been significant, to say the least.
Design Between The Lines’ great achievement therefore is not the precision of its retelling of the former Renault chief designer’s career, but something far more worthwhile. It is the lessons learned, the insight into his mindset that make this book a must-read for anyone with a serious interest in professional design.
For this reason, a critique feels somewhat inadequate in the case of this particular book. An honest, up-front endorsement is more appropriate, as this is not just a good book, but an important one. A book in which le Quément does not present his wisdom, but shares it. And, in the process, illustrates what design is truly about, what can ideally be achieved in design and what it means to be a designer, if one is to go about this profession with a certain idealism and intellectual rigour.
That being said, le Quément is not a preacher, and Design Between The Lines never reads like the Design Gospel - thanks to a lightness of touch that makes even the most substantial of subjects easily digestible. Gernot Bracht’s charmingly amusing illustrations underline the impression that wit and breeziness, rather than pretentiousness, are the narrative tools of choice here.
Among Design Between The Lines’ strongest qualities is that it explains the complexities of design in a modern corporate context. Le Quément highlights the team aspect of any such endeavour - in musical terms, a chief designer is akin to a conductor, rather than a tenor, after all -, yet also makes it abundantly clear that not only do decisions need to be taken, but even fought for.
Against this backdrop, his obvious pride at having successfully gone to battle against the inherently risk-averse corporate culture on behalf of the original Twingo is perfectly relatable. Moreover, it highlights that only part of the designer’s mission is to fulfil the customer’s brief - in certain cases, it is about creating a product the customer does not realise he needs. Which makes it hardly a surprise that Steve Jobs, another past master of this particular trick, gets not just name-checked, but is among the protagonists of the book.
If there is any reservation to be voiced, it would be that certain explanations are repeated and hence seemingly superfluous. Then again, this is due to the book having been devised in such a way that any chapter can be read at random. Like its compact format, the intention behind this was to make Design Between The Lines as accessible as possible, rather than an expensive, unwieldy coffee-table tome. Thankfully, Merrell Publishers did not use the compact format as an excuse for cheap paper or binding, both of which are fine indeed.
Patrick le Quément may have retired from automotive design more than a decade ago. But his experience and personal stance remain as relevant as ever, particularly in an age when the amount of words used to explain a new car’s design appears to be in an inverse relationship to its intellectual, and sometimes even practical value. For this reason, Design Between The Lines could not have come at more appropriate a point in time.
Thanks to Merrell Publishers for providing a copy of Design Between The Lines.
Illustrations © Merrell Publishers/Gernot Bracht
© auto-didakt.com, all rights reserved
Comment by Charles |
Thank you for that review - that’s definitely a book for Christmas. I gather it’s divided in to 50 chapters over 200+ pages, so a reasonable amount to read. Did you have a favourite chapter?
Reply by Christopher Butt
211 pages, to be precise.
There was no single chapter I that stood head and shoulders above the rest, in my opinion. 50 might seem like a huge number, but wach one is meaningful in its own way.
Comment by Andrew Miles |
Dear Christopher
After reading your review here, I’ve just ordered a copy. As one who has a great deal of interest in the design aspects of cars but no clue as to how it all works, I’m now in anticipation of the books delivery.
As you have close links with such people and the industry, could one furnish either your own site or that other excellent window on the car world, Driven To Write with any of your learnings? Be those anecdotal, evidence based or just plain ludicrous, I’m certain there would be a wide audience awaiting entertainment.
Reply by Christopher Butt
Andrew,
I'm certain you won't regret this purchase. This is among the finest car design books I'm aware of (this and some others I also reviewed in brief form on Instagram), so I trust you'll find it positively diverting and instructive.
Whenever I write about a car's design, I try and incorporate whatever background information I'm privy to - if it's not merely gossip, if that information is in some way meaningful and if I'm not being indiscreet by publicising potentially compromising insights. But those learnings you mention inform most of what I write about car design.
Comment by James Godwin |
A lovely book, and not too ego driven as you'd expect from other design leaders. Bravo PLQ!
Comment by Eric Jones |
Hey, this is Eric and I ran across auto-didakt.com a few minutes ago.
Looks great… but now what?
By that I mean, when someone like me finds your website – either through Search or just bouncing around – what happens next? Do you get a lot of leads from your site, or at least enough to make you happy?
Honestly, most business websites fall a bit short when it comes to generating paying customers. Studies show that 70% of a site’s visitors disappear and are gone forever after just a moment.
Here’s an idea…
How about making it really EASY for every visitor who shows up to get a personal phone call you as soon as they hit your site…
You can –
Talk With Web Visitor is a software widget that’s works on your site, ready to capture any visitor’s Name, Email address and Phone Number. It signals you the moment they let you know they’re interested – so that you can talk to that lead while they’re literally looking over your site.
CLICK HERE https://boostleadgeneration.com to try out a Live Demo with Talk With Web Visitor now to see exactly how it works.
You’ll be amazed - the difference between contacting someone within 5 minutes versus a half-hour or more later could increase your results 100-fold.
It gets even better… once you’ve captured their phone number, with our new SMS Text With Lead feature, you can automatically start a text (SMS) conversation.
That way, even if you don’t close a deal right away, you can follow up with text messages for new offers, content links, even just “how you doing?” notes to build a relationship.
Pretty sweet – AND effective.
CLICK HERE https://boostleadgeneration.com to discover what Talk With Web Visitor can do for your business.
You could be converting up to 100X more leads today!
Eric
PS: Talk With Web Visitor offers a FREE 14 days trial – and it even includes International Long Distance Calling.
You have customers waiting to talk with you right now… don’t keep them waiting.
CLICK HERE https://boostleadgeneration.com to try Talk With Web Visitor now.
If you'd like to unsubscribe click here http://boostleadgeneration.com/unsubscribe.aspx?d=auto-didakt.com
Comment by Eric Jones |
Hi, my name is Eric and I’m betting you’d like your website auto-didakt.com to generate more leads.
Here’s how:
Talk With Web Visitor is a software widget that’s works on your site, ready to capture any visitor’s Name, Email address and Phone Number. It signals you as soon as they say they’re interested – so that you can talk to that lead while they’re still there at auto-didakt.com.
Talk With Web Visitor – CLICK HERE http://boostleadgeneration.com for a live demo now.
And now that you’ve got their phone number, our new SMS Text With Lead feature enables you to start a text (SMS) conversation – answer questions, provide more info, and close a deal that way.
If they don’t take you up on your offer then, just follow up with text messages for new offers, content links, even just “how you doing?” notes to build a relationship.
CLICK HERE http://boostleadgeneration.com to discover what Talk With Web Visitor can do for your business.
The difference between contacting someone within 5 minutes versus a half-hour means you could be converting up to 100X more leads today!
Try Talk With Web Visitor and get more leads now.
Eric
PS: The studies show 7 out of 10 visitors don’t hang around – you can’t afford to lose them!
Talk With Web Visitor offers a FREE 14 days trial – and it even includes International Long Distance Calling.
You have customers waiting to talk with you right now… don’t keep them waiting.
CLICK HERE http://boostleadgeneration.com to try Talk With Web Visitor now.
If you'd like to unsubscribe click here http://boostleadgeneration.com/unsubscribe.aspx?d=auto-didakt.com
Comment by Eric Jones |
Hi, Eric here with a quick thought about your website auto-didakt.com...
I’m on the internet a lot and I look at a lot of business websites.
Like yours, many of them have great content.
But all too often, they come up short when it comes to engaging and connecting with anyone who visits.
I get it – it’s hard. Studies show 7 out of 10 people who land on a site, abandon it in moments without leaving even a trace. You got the eyeball, but nothing else.
Here’s a solution for you…
Talk With Web Visitor is a software widget that’s works on your site, ready to capture any visitor’s Name, Email address and Phone Number. You’ll know immediately they’re interested and you can call them directly to talk with them literally while they’re still on the web looking at your site.
CLICK HERE https://boostleadgeneration.com to try out a Live Demo with Talk With Web Visitor now to see exactly how it works.
It could be huge for your business – and because you’ve got that phone number, with our new SMS Text With Lead feature, you can automatically start a text (SMS) conversation – immediately… and contacting someone in that 5 minute window is 100 times more powerful than reaching out 30 minutes or more later.
Plus, with text messaging you can follow up later with new offers, content links, even just follow up notes to keep the conversation going.
Everything I’ve just described is extremely simple to implement, cost-effective, and profitable.
CLICK HERE https://boostleadgeneration.com to discover what Talk With Web Visitor can do for your business.
You could be converting up to 100X more eyeballs into leads today!
Eric
PS: Talk With Web Visitor offers a FREE 14 days trial – and it even includes International Long Distance Calling.
You have customers waiting to talk with you right now… don’t keep them waiting.
CLICK HERE https://boostleadgeneration.com to try Talk With Web Visitor now.
If you'd like to unsubscribe click here http://boostleadgeneration.com/unsubscribe.aspx?d=auto-didakt.com
Comment by Eric Jones |
My name’s Eric and I just came across your website - auto-didakt.com - in the search results.
Here’s what that means to me…
Your SEO’s working.
You’re getting eyeballs – mine at least.
Your content’s pretty good, wouldn’t change a thing.
BUT…
Eyeballs don’t pay the bills.
CUSTOMERS do.
And studies show that 7 out of 10 visitors to a site like auto-didakt.com will drop by, take a gander, and then head for the hills without doing anything else.
It’s like they never were even there.
You can fix this.
You can make it super-simple for them to raise their hand, say, “okay, let’s talk” without requiring them to even pull their cell phone from their pocket… thanks to Talk With Web Visitor.
Talk With Web Visitor is a software widget that sits on your site, ready and waiting to capture any visitor’s Name, Email address and Phone Number. It lets you know immediately – so you can talk to that lead immediately… without delay… BEFORE they head for those hills.
CLICK HERE https://boostleadgeneration.com to try out a Live Demo with Talk With Web Visitor now to see exactly how it works.
Now it’s also true that when reaching out to hot leads, you MUST act fast – the difference between contacting someone within 5 minutes versus 30 minutes later is huge – like 100 times better!
That’s what makes our new SMS Text With Lead feature so powerful… you’ve got their phone number, so now you can start a text message (SMS) conversation with them… so even if they don’t take you up on your offer right away, you continue to text them new offers, new content, and new reasons to do business with you.
This could change everything for you and your business.
CLICK HERE https://boostleadgeneration.com to learn more about everything Talk With Web Visitor can do and start turing eyeballs into money.
Eric
PS: Talk With Web Visitor offers a FREE 14 days trial – you could be converting up to 100x more leads immediately!
It even includes International Long Distance Calling.
Paying customers are out there waiting.
Starting connecting today by CLICKING HERE https://boostleadgeneration.com to try Talk With Web Visitor now.
If you'd like to unsubscribe click here http://boostleadgeneration.com/unsubscribe.aspx?d=auto-didakt.com
Comment by Eric Jones |
Cool website!
My name’s Eric, and I just found your site - auto-didakt.com - while surfing the net. You showed up at the top of the search results, so I checked you out. Looks like what you’re doing is pretty cool.
But if you don’t mind me asking – after someone like me stumbles across auto-didakt.com, what usually happens?
Is your site generating leads for your business?
I’m guessing some, but I also bet you’d like more… studies show that 7 out 10 who land on a site wind up leaving without a trace.
Not good.
Here’s a thought – what if there was an easy way for every visitor to “raise their hand” to get a phone call from you INSTANTLY… the second they hit your site and said, “call me now.”
You can –
Talk With Web Visitor is a software widget that’s works on your site, ready to capture any visitor’s Name, Email address and Phone Number. It lets you know IMMEDIATELY – so that you can talk to that lead while they’re literally looking over your site.
CLICK HERE http://jumboleadmagnet.com to try out a Live Demo with Talk With Web Visitor now to see exactly how it works.
Time is money when it comes to connecting with leads – the difference between contacting someone within 5 minutes versus 30 minutes later can be huge – like 100 times better!
That’s why we built out our new SMS Text With Lead feature… because once you’ve captured the visitor’s phone number, you can automatically start a text message (SMS) conversation.
Think about the possibilities – even if you don’t close a deal then and there, you can follow up with text messages for new offers, content links, even just “how you doing?” notes to build a relationship.
Wouldn’t that be cool?
CLICK HERE http://jumboleadmagnet.com to discover what Talk With Web Visitor can do for your business.
You could be converting up to 100X more leads today!
Eric
PS: Talk With Web Visitor offers a FREE 14 days trial – and it even includes International Long Distance Calling.
You have customers waiting to talk with you right now… don’t keep them waiting.
CLICK HERE http://jumboleadmagnet.com to try Talk With Web Visitor now.
If you'd like to unsubscribe click here http://jumboleadmagnet.com/unsubscribe.aspx?d=auto-didakt.com
Comment by Eric Jones |
Cool website!
My name’s Eric, and I just found your site - auto-didakt.com - while surfing the net. You showed up at the top of the search results, so I checked you out. Looks like what you’re doing is pretty cool.
But if you don’t mind me asking – after someone like me stumbles across auto-didakt.com, what usually happens?
Is your site generating leads for your business?
I’m guessing some, but I also bet you’d like more… studies show that 7 out 10 who land on a site wind up leaving without a trace.
Not good.
Here’s a thought – what if there was an easy way for every visitor to “raise their hand” to get a phone call from you INSTANTLY… the second they hit your site and said, “call me now.”
You can –
Talk With Web Visitor is a software widget that’s works on your site, ready to capture any visitor’s Name, Email address and Phone Number. It lets you know IMMEDIATELY – so that you can talk to that lead while they’re literally looking over your site.
CLICK HERE http://boostleadgeneration.com to try out a Live Demo with Talk With Web Visitor now to see exactly how it works.
Time is money when it comes to connecting with leads – the difference between contacting someone within 5 minutes versus 30 minutes later can be huge – like 100 times better!
That’s why we built out our new SMS Text With Lead feature… because once you’ve captured the visitor’s phone number, you can automatically start a text message (SMS) conversation.
Think about the possibilities – even if you don’t close a deal then and there, you can follow up with text messages for new offers, content links, even just “how you doing?” notes to build a relationship.
Wouldn’t that be cool?
CLICK HERE http://boostleadgeneration.com to discover what Talk With Web Visitor can do for your business.
You could be converting up to 100X more leads today!
Eric
PS: Talk With Web Visitor offers a FREE 14 days trial – and it even includes International Long Distance Calling.
You have customers waiting to talk with you right now… don’t keep them waiting.
CLICK HERE http://boostleadgeneration.com to try Talk With Web Visitor now.
If you'd like to unsubscribe click here http://boostleadgeneration.com/unsubscribe.aspx?d=auto-didakt.com
Comment by Eric Jones |
Good day,
My name is Eric and unlike a lot of emails you might get, I wanted to instead provide you with a word of encouragement – Congratulations
What for?
Part of my job is to check out websites and the work you’ve done with auto-didakt.com definitely stands out.
It’s clear you took building a website seriously and made a real investment of time and resources into making it top quality.
There is, however, a catch… more accurately, a question…
So when someone like me happens to find your site – maybe at the top of the search results (nice job BTW) or just through a random link, how do you know?
More importantly, how do you make a connection with that person?
Studies show that 7 out of 10 visitors don’t stick around – they’re there one second and then gone with the wind.
Here’s a way to create INSTANT engagement that you may not have known about…
Talk With Web Visitor is a software widget that’s works on your site, ready to capture any visitor’s Name, Email address and Phone Number. It lets you know INSTANTLY that they’re interested – so that you can talk to that lead while they’re literally checking out auto-didakt.com.
CLICK HERE https://boostleadgeneration.com to try out a Live Demo with Talk With Web Visitor now to see exactly how it works.
It could be a game-changer for your business – and it gets even better… once you’ve captured their phone number, with our new SMS Text With Lead feature, you can automatically start a text (SMS) conversation – immediately (and there’s literally a 100X difference between contacting someone within 5 minutes versus 30 minutes.)
Plus then, even if you don’t close a deal right away, you can connect later on with text messages for new offers, content links, even just follow up notes to build a relationship.
Everything I’ve just described is simple, easy, and effective.
CLICK HERE https://boostleadgeneration.com to discover what Talk With Web Visitor can do for your business.
You could be converting up to 100X more leads today!
Eric
PS: Talk With Web Visitor offers a FREE 14 days trial – and it even includes International Long Distance Calling.
You have customers waiting to talk with you right now… don’t keep them waiting.
CLICK HERE https://boostleadgeneration.com to try Talk With Web Visitor now.
If you'd like to unsubscribe click here http://boostleadgeneration.com/unsubscribe.aspx?d=auto-didakt.com
Comment by Eric Jones |
Hi, my name is Eric and I’m betting you’d like your website auto-didakt.com to generate more leads.
Here’s how:
Talk With Web Visitor is a software widget that’s works on your site, ready to capture any visitor’s Name, Email address and Phone Number. It signals you as soon as they say they’re interested – so that you can talk to that lead while they’re still there at auto-didakt.com.
Talk With Web Visitor – CLICK HERE https://boostleadgeneration.com for a live demo now.
And now that you’ve got their phone number, our new SMS Text With Lead feature enables you to start a text (SMS) conversation – answer questions, provide more info, and close a deal that way.
If they don’t take you up on your offer then, just follow up with text messages for new offers, content links, even just “how you doing?” notes to build a relationship.
CLICK HERE https://boostleadgeneration.com to discover what Talk With Web Visitor can do for your business.
The difference between contacting someone within 5 minutes versus a half-hour means you could be converting up to 100X more leads today!
Try Talk With Web Visitor and get more leads now.
Eric
PS: The studies show 7 out of 10 visitors don’t hang around – you can’t afford to lose them!
Talk With Web Visitor offers a FREE 14 days trial – and it even includes International Long Distance Calling.
You have customers waiting to talk with you right now… don’t keep them waiting.
CLICK HERE https://boostleadgeneration.com to try Talk With Web Visitor now.
If you'd like to unsubscribe click here http://boostleadgeneration.com/unsubscribe.aspx?d=auto-didakt.com
Comment by Eric Jones |
Hey, this is Eric and I ran across auto-didakt.com a few minutes ago.
Looks great… but now what?
By that I mean, when someone like me finds your website – either through Search or just bouncing around – what happens next? Do you get a lot of leads from your site, or at least enough to make you happy?
Honestly, most business websites fall a bit short when it comes to generating paying customers. Studies show that 70% of a site’s visitors disappear and are gone forever after just a moment.
Here’s an idea…
How about making it really EASY for every visitor who shows up to get a personal phone call you as soon as they hit your site…
You can –
Talk With Web Visitor is a software widget that’s works on your site, ready to capture any visitor’s Name, Email address and Phone Number. It signals you the moment they let you know they’re interested – so that you can talk to that lead while they’re literally looking over your site.
CLICK HERE http://jumboleadmagnet.com to try out a Live Demo with Talk With Web Visitor now to see exactly how it works.
You’ll be amazed - the difference between contacting someone within 5 minutes versus a half-hour or more later could increase your results 100-fold.
It gets even better… once you’ve captured their phone number, with our new SMS Text With Lead feature, you can automatically start a text (SMS) conversation.
That way, even if you don’t close a deal right away, you can follow up with text messages for new offers, content links, even just “how you doing?” notes to build a relationship.
Pretty sweet – AND effective.
CLICK HERE http://jumboleadmagnet.com to discover what Talk With Web Visitor can do for your business.
You could be converting up to 100X more leads today!
Eric
PS: Talk With Web Visitor offers a FREE 14 days trial – and it even includes International Long Distance Calling.
You have customers waiting to talk with you right now… don’t keep them waiting.
CLICK HERE http://jumboleadmagnet.com to try Talk With Web Visitor now.
If you'd like to unsubscribe click here http://jumboleadmagnet.com/unsubscribe.aspx?d=auto-didakt.com
Comment by Eric Jones |
Hi, Eric here with a quick thought about your website auto-didakt.com...
I’m on the internet a lot and I look at a lot of business websites.
Like yours, many of them have great content.
But all too often, they come up short when it comes to engaging and connecting with anyone who visits.
I get it – it’s hard. Studies show 7 out of 10 people who land on a site, abandon it in moments without leaving even a trace. You got the eyeball, but nothing else.
Here’s a solution for you…
Talk With Web Visitor is a software widget that’s works on your site, ready to capture any visitor’s Name, Email address and Phone Number. You’ll know immediately they’re interested and you can call them directly to talk with them literally while they’re still on the web looking at your site.
CLICK HERE http://jumboleadmagnet.com to try out a Live Demo with Talk With Web Visitor now to see exactly how it works.
It could be huge for your business – and because you’ve got that phone number, with our new SMS Text With Lead feature, you can automatically start a text (SMS) conversation – immediately… and contacting someone in that 5 minute window is 100 times more powerful than reaching out 30 minutes or more later.
Plus, with text messaging you can follow up later with new offers, content links, even just follow up notes to keep the conversation going.
Everything I’ve just described is extremely simple to implement, cost-effective, and profitable.
CLICK HERE http://jumboleadmagnet.com to discover what Talk With Web Visitor can do for your business.
You could be converting up to 100X more eyeballs into leads today!
Eric
PS: Talk With Web Visitor offers a FREE 14 days trial – and it even includes International Long Distance Calling.
You have customers waiting to talk with you right now… don’t keep them waiting.
CLICK HERE http://jumboleadmagnet.com to try Talk With Web Visitor now.
If you'd like to unsubscribe click here http://jumboleadmagnet.com/unsubscribe.aspx?d=auto-didakt.com
Comment by Eric Jones |
My name’s Eric and I just came across your website - auto-didakt.com - in the search results.
Here’s what that means to me…
Your SEO’s working.
You’re getting eyeballs – mine at least.
Your content’s pretty good, wouldn’t change a thing.
BUT…
Eyeballs don’t pay the bills.
CUSTOMERS do.
And studies show that 7 out of 10 visitors to a site like auto-didakt.com will drop by, take a gander, and then head for the hills without doing anything else.
It’s like they never were even there.
You can fix this.
You can make it super-simple for them to raise their hand, say, “okay, let’s talk” without requiring them to even pull their cell phone from their pocket… thanks to Talk With Web Visitor.
Talk With Web Visitor is a software widget that sits on your site, ready and waiting to capture any visitor’s Name, Email address and Phone Number. It lets you know immediately – so you can talk to that lead immediately… without delay… BEFORE they head for those hills.
CLICK HERE http://boostleadgeneration.com to try out a Live Demo with Talk With Web Visitor now to see exactly how it works.
Now it’s also true that when reaching out to hot leads, you MUST act fast – the difference between contacting someone within 5 minutes versus 30 minutes later is huge – like 100 times better!
That’s what makes our new SMS Text With Lead feature so powerful… you’ve got their phone number, so now you can start a text message (SMS) conversation with them… so even if they don’t take you up on your offer right away, you continue to text them new offers, new content, and new reasons to do business with you.
This could change everything for you and your business.
CLICK HERE http://boostleadgeneration.com to learn more about everything Talk With Web Visitor can do and start turing eyeballs into money.
Eric
PS: Talk With Web Visitor offers a FREE 14 days trial – you could be converting up to 100x more leads immediately!
It even includes International Long Distance Calling.
Paying customers are out there waiting.
Starting connecting today by CLICKING HERE http://boostleadgeneration.com to try Talk With Web Visitor now.
If you'd like to unsubscribe click here http://boostleadgeneration.com/unsubscribe.aspx?d=auto-didakt.com
Comment by celebviva.com |
<a href="https://celebviva.com/pics-and-hot-video-with-naked-salma-hayek-in-movies/">Nude Salma Hayek</a>
https://celebviva.com/pics-and-hot-video-with-naked-salma-hayek-in-movies/
Pics and hot video with naked Salma Hayek in movies.