Sustainable IH Toaster
DEC. 2018
Nowadays, toasters do not differ in their quality of toasting, but their appearance and excessive functions. The heating mechanism of traditional toaster determines its inability to provide the consistent toasting quality and its safety hazards concurrently. Various forms and different marketing schemes stir up users’ expectations but does not function accordingly, resulting in returns or end up in landfills, wasting valuable time, money, and natural resources. The redesign, an induction heating toaster considers the consequences of the design and the users’ lifestyle. It ensures quality in the product and takes usage into account rather than ownership by providing a product in service throughout the entire product path. By doing so, it aims for a design that lasts longer and does not lose its value once the users no longer needs it.
1. User research: observation, user review, and user interviews
2. Journey Map / Process Analysis
The price for a toaster does not vary by quality but by appearance and excessive functions. The current market is saturated with a large number of toasters in different styles and various features. Online reviews have shown that the most common complaints of toasters are their toasting quality. However, the same heating mechanism is shared by toasters. It does not provide even heating and highly energy inefficient, concluded by several energy analysis reports.
3. Target user and behaviour profile
4. Available technology and environmental impact
5. Ideation
The ideation of the toaster focuses on addressing the problems discovered in the research stage. It should eliminate the pain points in the using process while incorporating a better heating mechanism that provides qualitative toast and improve energy use. Under such criteria, three types of forms were chosen to be experimented in the prototypes.
6. prototype
The low fidelity prototypes explored the forms from the ideation process and considered the ones that can provide a smooth using process. The selected one was built into the actual size model to validate the idea. It has a front opening that can also be used as a tray transporting the finished toast to the serving plate.
7. CMF
The muted and natural tone is an ongoing interior design trend and a timeless color tone. Similar color trend is also found on magazine covers popular among target users.
To increase durability and satisfy the material requirement for a kitchen appliance, aluminum was chose as the main material, capable of being recycled forever. As a non-ferrous material, which will not be heated by induction heating, it is perfect as the outside material.
A matte anodized finish is chosen to match the muted color.
Final Concept
Induction Heating
It ensures a consistent quality in toasting. By precise control in temperature, it can optimize the energy use.
Aluminum Shell
The outer shell is made from aluminium, a non-ferrous metal that cannot be heated up by induction. It is much more durable than plastic and a material with a mature re-manufacturing line.
User journey
A concept defining the user’s role in the process. The service provide a channel that links the products in the end of the usage back with the producers, a procedure that is missing in the current market.
Reference:
Potter, Jeff. Cooking for Geeks: Real Science, Great Cooks, and Good Food. Sebastopol, CA: OReilly Media, 2015.
Franklin, Kate, and Caroline Till. Radical Matter: Rethinking Materials for a Sustainable Future. London: Thames & Hudson, 2018.
McDonough, William J., and Michael Braungart. Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things. London: Cape, 2008.
Papanek, Victor. Design for the Real World: Human Ecology and Social Change. Chicago, IL: Academy Chicago Publ., 1971.
Landa, Manuel De. A Thousand Years of Nonlinear History. New York: Swerve Editions, 2014.