A major exhibition at The Design Museum in London is set to explore the design evolution of one of the world’s most famous dolls: Barbie®. Visitors will journey into the Barbie universe, discovering over 250 remarkable objects, including rare, unique, and innovative dolls dating from 1959 to the present day.
EXHIBITIONS
Opening to coincide with the 65th anniversary of the Barbie brand in 2024, the exhibition will examine the story of Barbie through a design lens, covering fashion, architecture, furniture, and vehicle design.
Highlights include a rare first edition of the very first doll released by Mattel in 1959 (‘Number 1 Barbie’), the groundbreaking Day to Night Barbie from 1985, and the best-selling Barbie of all time, 1992’s Totally Hair Barbie, which sold over 10 million units worldwide. The exhibition will also feature the first Black, Hispanic, and Asian dolls to bear the Barbie name, as well as dolls reflecting today’s diverse, multicultural society, including the first Barbie with Down syndrome, the first to use a wheelchair, and the first with a curvy body shape.
In addition to Barbie herself, the exhibition will showcase her friends, including her first friend, Midge, and the beloved Christie and Teresa, as well as Barbie’s younger sister, Skipper. A dedicated section for Ken will present six decades of his evolution since his introduction in 1961. Other objects from this historic brand, such as Dreamhouses, vehicles, and furniture, will be displayed, including the first-ever Barbie Dreamhouse™ from 1962, illustrating how Barbie’s universe has evolved to reflect contemporary tastes and trends in design.
The exhibition aims to be a “joyful, fascinating, inspiring, illuminating, and even perhaps nostalgic experience for generations of Barbie fans,” according to the museum’s director and CEO, Tim Marlow. Exhibition curator Danielle Thom highlighted that “the Barbie universe is expansive and exciting, thanks to the meticulous work of talented designers over the past 65 years.” She added that Barbie is a prime example of world-building through product and graphic design, inspiring many designers and artists.
Mattel’s senior vice president, Kim Culmone, emphasized Barbie’s status as an international icon that continues to spark conversation, creativity, and self-expression globally. The exhibition will offer fans an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at Mattel’s design processes and the evolution of Barbie’s looks with changing culture. It will open at the Design Museum on July 5, 2024, and run until early 2025, with tickets available on the museum’s website.
