Toaster Redesign
Product Design, SCAD, 2014
Project Brief
Redesign a new toaster by solving some existing problems and help users to improve the experience.
Secondary & Primary Research
Basic Info & Features
• Consistency of toasting:
The ideal toaster can provide even toasting over the area of the bread.
• Choice in toastiness:
The user should be able to chose the darkness of the toasting.
• Toast output:
Various toasters can process bread into toast at different capacities.
• Removability of crumb tray:
Toasters with a permanently attached crumb tray will be more difficult to clean than those with a removable tray.
• One-sided toasting:
Toasters may optionally toast only one side of the bread.
• Safety features:
Most contemporary pop-up toasters have automatic shutoff in case of toast burning.
Existing Brand
Multiple Function
Synthesis
Opportunities
Concepts
Sketches
Mock Up Mark 0
Mark 0 Mechanism
Issues found
• The slot is too tight.
• The bread is too soft to be inserted into the slot.
• It's hard to drop down the toasts.
Mock Up Mark 1
• Disassembled my own toaster and found it's using electric magnet to pop up the toasts.
• Take apart the time counting chip of my own toaster and use it on the mock up.
• Use the electric magnet as the mechanism.
Mark 1 Mechanism
Issues found
• The gate may not support the weight of the bread.
• Cabinet may block the top of the toaster.
• Only one bread can be toasting at one time.
Final Concept
Improvement Directions
• Insert bread horizontally
• No extra action for turning on the power
Inspiration
Drum washing machine Japanese bamboo fountain
Renderings
Mechanism
Prototype
