Member Article

Making the most of your morning toast

An innovative creation by a Northumbria University student could signal the end of the traditional two-slice pop-up toaster. Third year Design for Industry student George Watson, 21, has invented a device called ‘Glide’, a ceramic, upright, ‘motion toaster’, designed for use at the breakfast table. His invention has already won an international design contest, and grabbed the attention of a number of global kitchen product manufacturers. Glide moves sliced bread through heated plates and emerges toasted and ready to drop into the integrated toast rack.

George said: “There has been little development of the toaster since the start of the century, and whilst other appliances have developed and improved incorporating new technologies and thinking, toasters have remained relatively untouched. “The traditional two-slice toaster is often bulky, made of plastic, and hidden away in a cupboard. I wanted ‘Glide’ to be something you’d be proud to display, almost like a piece of art.”

George’s work on ‘Glide’ was displayed the Macef show in Milan and as a result he has been approached by a number of companies interesting in making and marketing the toaster.

Mark Bailey, Senior Lecturer, Design for Industry, said: “What George has done is typical of the many award-winning design students that have gone before him here at Northumbria; he’s brought elegant thinking and a focus on user experience to bear on a familiar aspect of daily life.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .