Toast is now the hottest thing in product design

It’s true. There’s something about turning things that aren’t toast into toast that seems to appeal to designers right now. A thumb-sucking trend-spotter (GUILTY!) might say this is because toast is warm and comfortable which makes it especially appealing in these unsettled times. However what I really say is pass the marmalade.

First: The refillable toast-shaped Post-It note dispenser (Toast-It Note?), in which the notes play the roll of the butter.

Second: The toast-shaped inflatable pillow. Or mini-pillow? It’s 6 inches across, so I have no idea what earthly use it might have.

Third: Toast — the board game. Turns any slice into yet another pointless game of tic-tac-toe!

Fourth: The toast phone — sadly still only a prototype.

Fifth: The toast clock.

Sixth: The Toast Doll. “Also available are his friends Joe the Egg (6″ tall), Clem Lemon (9″ tall) and Shaky Bacon (10″ tall).“

Seventh: Toast for your charm bracelet. (BTW, other foods also available.)

Eighth: Toast sponge with soap that looks like jam.

Ninth: Toast greeting cards.

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Tenth: A cell-phone holder.

Eleventh: A costume.

All this focus on toast has also meant ongoing design refinement of the actual thing that produces the heated bread product.

Herewith some of my favorite strange toaster designs:

Toaster & Tea Pot combo

A toaster designed to protect your eyes.

 

The need for the above can be seen below:

The VW Toaster:

The toaster & radio combo.

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And two great toasters that so far are only concepts.

First is the “I Like To Watch It Burn”

And then … Through a scanner lightly browned