London’s Design Museum is opening a new exhibition on the history of Barbie next year to coincide with the 65th anniversary of the doll brand.
Through a new partnership with Mattel, the Design Museum has been granted special access to the Barbie archives in California.
Three years in the making, the exhibition will explore the design evolution of the famous doll. On view will be rare and unique items alongside other loans and acquisitions.
“Barbie is one of the most recognisable brands on the planet and as we’ve seen recently, her story evolves with each new generation,” said Tim Marlow, director and CEO of the Design Museum.
“I am delighted that we can announce that we’re planning to mark Barbie’s 65th birthday with a major exhibition, and I want to thank Mattel for collaborating with us through their extensive archive to help us tell this story.
“We look forward next year to displaying a whole range of eye-catching objects, some familiar but many never seen before, to showcase the evolution of design across the decades of Barbie’s world.”
The upcoming exhibition will be curated by the Design Museum’s Danielle Thom and opens on 5 July 2024. Tickets will go on sale in the spring.
The show “will map the Barbie legacy that started in 1959 when Ruth Handler wanted to craft a different narrative for her daughter, Barbara”, the Design Museum said in a statement.
Design evolution of the iconic doll
“It will go on to explore the story of Barbie through a design lens, including fashion, architecture, furniture and vehicle design,” it added.
Elsewhere, Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota has opened the Malibu Barbie Cafe, an interactive pop-up restaurant inspired by the iconic doll. Additionally, Mattel’s new theme park in Arizona will feature a life-size Barbie Beach House.
The new Barbie experiences come after the summer release of Greta Gerwig‘s 2023 film Barbie, which has become this year’s biggest box office hit.
Images courtesy of the Design Museum and Mattel
