The Henry Ford and House Industries, two institutions committed to celebrating the spirit of innovation, joined forces to create a multisensory exhibition that will inform, teach and, most importantly, empower people of all ages to follow their interests and never stop learning from what they like.

A Type of Learning walked visitors through a large-scale physical representation of House Industries’ creative process in the museum’s expansive special exhibition space. The exhibit showed how childhood interests in drawing led to creating fonts that help the world communicate; how hot-rodding and punk rock influences reinforced a hands-on approach to problem-solving; and how personal interests can inspire innovation. Significant historical artifacts — including Ed “Big Daddy” Roth’s futuristic Mysterion show car, revolutionary furniture by Charles and Ray Eames and an original Apple 1 computer — paired with our work to demonstrate how different objects and experiences can pave the way for anyone’s creative path.

The Henry Ford is a sort of Disneyland for history buffs, fans of technology, and design enthusiasts alike. Nikola Tesla’s AC motor prototypes sit on a shelf in a vault just underneath Thomas Edison’s lightbulb. Buckminster Fuller’s Dymaxion House is right down the hall from the bus on which Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat.