# How I built a toaster -- from scratch

- Institution: TED
- Department: TEDSalon London 2010
- Speaker: Thomas Thwaites
- Year: 2010
- Level: For everyone
- Language: English
- Subjects: Art, architecture and design
- Source: [TED](https://www.ted.com/talks/thomas_thwaites_how_i_built_a_toaster_from_scratch)
- Licence: [CC BY-NC-ND 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) (Non-commercial use only, and no changed versions.)
- Who can watch: Tweens profiles and older (sources give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the source's own words)

It takes an entire civilization to build a toaster. Designer Thomas Thwaites found out the hard way, by attempting to build one from scratch: mining ore for steel, deriving plastic from oil ... it's frankly amazing he got as far as he got. A parable of our interconnected society, for designers and consumers alike.

## Lectures

1. [How I built a toaster -- from scratch](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/ted/thomas_thwaites_how_i_built_a_toaster_from_scratch/9800ebfb2dc7), 11 min (TED's player)