<description>&lt;p&gt;What object signifies a unified world, a world where we work together for the good of everyone (and a tastier breakfast)?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Few other objects combine affordability, years of manufacturing advancement and the global trade system better than the toaster.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;It’s a clever little invention that has changed very little since its first design in the early 1900s, yet you’d be hard pushed to find a household without one.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode, the last in the current series, Ben charts the history of the toaster, and how the invention of the wire inside it led to its creation – not the need for toasted bread!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ben is also joined by design expert Phil Staunton, and they talk about why the design has changed very little in the last 100 years.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Together they explore the future of the toaster with industrial designer Paul Brown, a man who nearly propelled the toaster into a new dimension, but a close call with a smoke alarm whilst pitching to James Dyson put pay to that!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This is the last podcast in the current series, but Why the Fork will return in Spring 2026!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;FOLLOW THE SHOW:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/whytfpod/"&gt;https://www.instagram.com/whytfpod/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/why-the-fork-podcast/posts/?feedView=all"&gt;https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/why-the-fork-podcast/posts/?feedView=all&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;LINKS&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-brown-62a12643/"&gt;https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-brown-62a12643/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/bendiamant/"&gt;https://www.linkedin.com/in/bendiamant/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/philstaunton/"&gt;https://www.linkedin.com/in/philstaunton/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.design2market.co.uk/"&gt;https://www.design2market.co.uk/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Concept and Podcast production by: &lt;a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.gingerwizard.co.uk/"&gt;https://www.gingerwizard.co.uk/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Why the Fork: Everyday design for curious minds

D2M Product Design

Why the toaster? Glowing wires, burnt bread and a design that stuck

SEP 24, 202551 MIN
Why the Fork: Everyday design for curious minds

Why the toaster? Glowing wires, burnt bread and a design that stuck

SEP 24, 202551 MIN

Description

<p>What object signifies a unified world, a world where we work together for the good of everyone (and a tastier breakfast)?</p><p>Few other objects combine affordability, years of manufacturing advancement and the global trade system better than the toaster.</p><p>It’s a clever little invention that has changed very little since its first design in the early 1900s, yet you’d be hard pushed to find a household without one.</p><p>In this episode, the last in the current series, Ben charts the history of the toaster, and how the invention of the wire inside it led to its creation – not the need for toasted bread!</p><p>Ben is also joined by design expert Phil Staunton, and they talk about why the design has changed very little in the last 100 years.</p><p>Together they explore the future of the toaster with industrial designer Paul Brown, a man who nearly propelled the toaster into a new dimension, but a close call with a smoke alarm whilst pitching to James Dyson put pay to that!</p><p>This is the last podcast in the current series, but Why the Fork will return in Spring 2026!</p><p>FOLLOW THE SHOW:</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/whytfpod/">https://www.instagram.com/whytfpod/</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/why-the-fork-podcast/posts/?feedView=all">https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/why-the-fork-podcast/posts/?feedView=all</a></p><p>LINKS</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-brown-62a12643/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-brown-62a12643/</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/bendiamant/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/bendiamant/</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/philstaunton/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/philstaunton/</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.design2market.co.uk/">https://www.design2market.co.uk/</a></p><p>Concept and Podcast production by: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.gingerwizard.co.uk/">https://www.gingerwizard.co.uk/</a></p>