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A Great Way to Learn About Product Design: Visit the Museum of Failures

In every History of Industrial Design class, you look at slide after slide of the hits, the successes, the breakthroughs. But couldn’t we also learn something about successful design by studying the failures?

Dr. Samuel West believes so. As Director of the Museum of Failures in Helsingborg, Sweden, West presides over exhibitions of both notable and obscure product design fails, from Apple flops to ill-conceived beautification gadgets to redundant technological devices. The point is not to pillory, but to learn. Take a look at these and tell me you wouldn’t visit:

Inside the Museum of Failure from NBC Left Field on Vimeo.

Presentations are conducted in both Swedish and English, with German soon to be added. Intriguingly, West also has his eye on expanding beyond objects:

We are planning to host evening activities related to failure. How about a failed gourmet tasting menu at a fancy restaurant? A tasting of failed brews from regional microbreweries? Or a world-renowned classic pianist giving a concert of failed music? Fuck-up-night talks? We welcome any further suggestions. The crazier the better…

You can learn more, or arrange a visit, here.

http://www.core77.com/posts/66882/A-Great-Way-to-Learn-About-Product-Design-Visit-the-Museum-of-Failures