Cars

“The better the proportions, the less styling you need” – Gary Telaak, Audi

By 2025-06-24T08:29:00

Gary Telaak, audi

Audi senior designer Gary Telaak has been with the storied brand for 28 years. Here he looks back at the launch of Audi TT, shares his thoughts on what made that car so special and talks about the challenges designers face in working with and integrating new technology

Gary Telaak has been part of the Audi Design team since the summer of 1997, marking nearly three decades with the brand. When he arrived, one of Audi’s most iconic vehicles — the Audi TT — was nearing completion. Although not directly involved in its creation, Telaak vividly remembers the impact the car had on him as a young designer.

“I remember very well,” he says. “In 1995, I was still studying car design. The TT show cars — the coupe and then the roadster — were just presented, and they were like cars from another planet. Very strict in geometry, those circular elements… it was fascinating how little geometric substance you needed to create such a masterpiece.”

The TT’s design struck a delicate balance —

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