Barbie®: The Exhibition runs until 23 February 2025, and charts the 65-year design evolution of the world’s most famous doll.
The exhibition features more than 180 dolls. Highlights include the first-edition Barbie from 1959, a one-of-a-kind Talking Barbie prototype, and the best-selling Totally Hair Barbie.
Also being exhibited for the first time ever is a Barbie that was taken into space by astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti.
The exhibition, designed by Sam Jacob Studio, marks the 65th anniversary of the Barbie brand. Visitors will get to see important and distinctive dolls, from the first Barbie to ‘move’ to the first Barbie to ‘talk’, as well as dresses, accessories and Dreamhouses.
Many friends of Barbie are also displayed, including her first friend Midge, the much-loved Christie and Teresa, as well as the younger sister of Barbie, Skipper.
There’s also a section dedicated to Ken, which will see six decades’ worth of Ken dolls charting his evolution from his introduction in 1961.
“The Barbie universe is expansive and exciting, and it’s thanks to the meticulous work of talented designers over the past 65 years,” said Danielle Thom, curator of the exhibition.
“Barbie is arguably one of the most globally recognised examples of world-building through product and graphic design, and in turn she has inspired many designers and artists to respond to her history. The design story of Barbie is a rich topic for our museum to put under the spotlight.”
Barbie®: The Exhibition explores Barbie’s changing appearance in relation to evolving cultural shifts around diversity and representation.
It also presents exclusive, behind-the-scenes insights into Mattel’s design processes, and offers a detailed exploration of the Barbie doll as a technically and materially innovative creation.
“Design has been at the heart of Barbie’s story ever since her creation 65 years ago. And as we’ve seen recently, her impact has also evolved with each new generation,” said Design Museum Director and CEO Tim Marlow.
“Visitors to our timely exhibition will come face-to-face with some of the most important and recognisable iterations of Barbie from across the past six-and-a-half decades, and we hope it will be a joyful, fascinating, inspiring, illuminating and even perhaps nostalgic experience for generations of Barbie fans.”
Barbie®: The Exhibition opens at the Design Museum runs until 23 February 2025.
