Why the toaster? Glowing wires, burnt bread and a design that stuck
What object signifies a unified world, a world where we work together for the good of everyone (and a tastier breakfast)? Few other objects combine affordability, years of manufacturing advancement and the global trade system better than the toaster. It’s a clever little invention that has changed very little since its first design in the […]
Why the Toothbrush? A riotous journey into oral hygiene
Your bathroom is home to something that has been with us for just a few hundred years, but without it, our health would be so much poorer. The toothbrush has become part of our daily routine, but it’s roots go way beyond what lives in your bathroom cabinet today. This episode takes in its beginnings […]
Why the Washing Machine? The revolutions of social change
Under your worktop there’s an icon quietly sitting there, transforming people’s lives. Without it, you would be still taking a weekly trip down to your local river, or washhouse, to get your clothes clean. Adding hours of domestic chores to everyone’s week. The washing machine is a silent part of the civilised world (apart from […]
Why the Backpack? From the frontier trek to the nearest bus stop
The backpack is something that’s interwoven into our lives. They grow with us, from our early days at school, to our holidays and our daily commute. It’s always there, happily carrying all the stuff we cram into it. But it’s one of those bits of design that’s so clever and so everyday, you assume it […]
Why the Hair Straightener? Rachel the hairy trend setter
Our hair, and how it looks, plays a huge part in our identity. From beehives to bobs and from quiffs to comb-overs, your hair-do says a lot about who you are. And the hair straightener has played a bigger role in that than you may think, for longer than you might have realised. Long before […]
Why the tin opener? Napoleon’s delicious problem
Welcome to Why the Fork – a fortnightly journey into the everyday objects that you probably ignore on a daily basis. For our first episode, we’re taking a look at why the tin opener is designed like it is. Creative Innovator and inventor of consumer goods, Ben Diamant, discovers: The reason why the tin opener […]
Trailer
Join us on a fascinating journey into the stories of everyday items. On Why the Fork, Inventor Ben Diamant looks at the hidden stories of the mundane objects in your home, that have an illustrious and fascinating past. Everything in your home has been designed by someone or a group of people over a number […]
Kickstarter, Copycats, and Comebacks: RiutBag’s Rise
In this episode of the podcast, hosts Tom Constable and Phil Staunton engage in a deep conversation with Sarah Giblin, the founder of RiutBag. They explore Sarah’s journey as a solopreneur, the challenges she faced, and the lessons learned along the way. The discussion covers the importance of customer feedback, the impact of burnout, and […]
Dyslexia, Deals & Devastation: Jez Williman on the Highs and Lows of Building Physical Products
In this episode, we sit down with Jez Williman, a British entrepreneur whose journey has seen him build a business from $3 million to over $100 million in sales across 120 countries and then lose a second venture after years of development and personal investment. Jez shares a candid, unfiltered story of the highs and […]