Museum In New York Showcases Failed Products & Ideas

Museums are home to cultural treasures and many stories of success, but an exhibit in New York City takes a dramatically different approach. The Museum of Failure recently opened in Brooklyn, putting more than a hundred failed products and ideas on proud display.

The flops include everything from a face mask that promised to shock your wrinkles away, to an office chair that claimed to give you a seated ab workout using movements from hula dancing.

The collection was assembled by Swedish organizational psychologist Dr. Samuel West. West studies innovation and believes that companies willing to produce items that are failures in the marketplace are often on the right track for future success.

The exhibit has been on display in several locations around the world, but organizers Johanna Guttmann and Josephine Bodogh recently helped bring it to New York City for the first time, opening in Brooklyn's Industry City.

"It's not really about the products. It's about having that conversation about failure," said Guttmann. "What do we learn from failure? How does the fear of failure hold us back from innovating, trying new things, taking meaningful risks?"

Some of the items in the museum illustrate how companies' missteps can lead to later successes. Nintendo's Power Glove released in the late 80's wasn't very functional, but it helped pave the way for later motion-controlled gaming devices like the Nintendo Wii. Google's wearable computer called Google Glass wasn't successful in the marketplace, but the technology will likely be refined in future products and devices.

But there are also some head-scratchers housed in a gallery the museum calls 'What Were They Thinking?' Among the treasures, Bic ballpoint pens that were designed for women and Gerber Singles, jarred baby foods that were marketed to single adults in the 1970's. Still, Guttmann says the point is that even complete flops can fuel a climate of innovation.

"People can feel comfortable trying different things, experimenting and ultimately innovating," she said.

The museum invites guests to share their own failures, and messages already fill an entire wall. Organizers hope people will draw a connection between the mistakes of big companies and more personal errors to remember that failure isn't necessarily final. And at least in one place, it has earned a place of honor.