Exhibition explores failure as a success

IT has been said many times that “failure is the mother of success.” And an exhibition, “Museum of Failure,” exploring that idiom is in its full swing at the No.1 Shopping Center.

The exhibit displays a collection of over 100 failed products and services from some of the world’s best-known companies, such as Apple, Google, Microsoft and Coca-Cola, offering visitors a fun, insightful glimpse into business innovation and its failures.

Curated by psychologist Dr Samuel West, the exhibition has toured America and Europe, winning high praise from visitors and critics alike.

The display includes Microsoft’s Kin cellphone, which was taken off the shelves four months after it entered the market due to an inadequate of “downloadable apps.” Pringles’ fat-free chips that resulted in stomach upset problems, and the oddly-tasting lasagna toothpaste produced by Colgate, among many others. The “skin care” mask from the 1980s didn’t catch on because it looked terrifying when it was applied.

Harley Davidson also had an innovative failure — a motorcycle scented perfume, named “Hot Road,” which was given the cold shoulder from customers in the 1990s.

Coca-Cola had a bold, yet failed invention — Coca-Cola Blak, a coffee-flavored Coke. Consumers just didn’t like the cola and coffee combination.

Volvo’s engineers put their imagination into a new bike. But their innovative plastic-made product was too light, fragile and it easily broke into pieces in several areas, including the handles and seat.

Date: Through March 17, 10am-10pm Venue: 3/F, Block B, No. 1 Shopping Center Address: 830 Nanjing Rd E.