Toaster + Salamander

Spring 2026

This toaster redesign began with the intent of learning about sheet metal manufacturing. However, it evolved into much more. The project began in fall 2025 and was revised in spring 2026.

A toaster was disassembled in order to understand how sheet metal is manufactured. Other discoveries were made as well. Air gaps reduce heat on the surface and Joule heating requires fewer parts than expected.

Most toaster ovens take up too much counter space. How can a toaster take up less counter space? Most toaster ovens are difficult to clean. How might it be easier to take apart a toaster and clean Joule heating rods?

The first concept was a critique of the toaster I took apart. It elevated toaster that provided more counter space. The grates covering the heating system can be removed so a human can clean the tubes to prevent fires. Although the changes to how the toaster is cleaned were valuable, there is more potential with the extra space created. This needed to be more than a subtle redesign. What can be done with extra space underneath?

A salamander broiler makes great use of the extra space underneath. a plancher was added as well to create an multicooker with everything you need.

The toaster, salamander, and plancher combination could sit between a counter top and a cabinet. Then, this compact unit could move up and down along a pulley system, so the user can raise and lower it to adjust the height of the salamander. A plancher no longer seemed necessary, as it was over complicating the product. It required to much vertical space and wattage.

Eventually, the wall mounting system was completely ditched. It only made sense to have the salamander part move up and down. More support for pulley system was added. Cork was used underneath to prevent heat transferring to the counter. A tray with cork can slide in underneath the salamander for high intensity heat. The half circle openings on the sides of the salamander were stylish, but too restrictrive. They were removed entirely.

The final design still adresses the counter space issue, which is one of the issues that initiated the whole project. Users can place anything un- derneath the broiler. Additionally, cooked food can sit under a heat lamp while other food is being cooked. The salamander broiler can crisp or brown any dish to finish it off.

A vent for the fan intake is located on the right side. A vent to cool the water tank is on the left side. Having these units on the left and right sides allows the toaster to take up less space going forwards and backwards.

This project began in October of 2025 and concluded in May 2026, which is much longer than any project I've done. I picked an item in a thrift store that I thought would be interesting to take apart, not knowing that it would affect the next seven months of my life. The cyclical nature of a design project alternating between experimental and realistic (silly and serious) concepts was amplified, with long periods of time where I could try something weird, and short sprints where this toaster was an assignment that was due in a week. I don't think I really like the final design, but I did like the process of getting there. I moved Joule heating parts around in 3D space like a graphic designer arranging text on a page. You can call heating whatever you want. If it's in a box, you might call it a toaster. If it's only heat from above, it's a broiler or a salamander. If it's from above and there's also a really powerful fan, well now it's an air fryer. All these names abstract what the product actually is from the buyer. I got annoyed with this project multiple times and there were weeks or months where I had the joy of completely forgetting about it while I worked on other things. And then when I return to the project, new ideas can thrive again. The hard part is when it has to end and you have to make a decision.