Can the last 65 years of mainstream western design tastes, consumer culture and women’s history be told through the story of an 11.5-inch plastic doll? Barbie: The Exhibition at the Design Museum in London attempts to do just that. By considering Barbie through a design lens, the show explores how the doll reflects, affirms – and at times even challenges – the many eras she’s lived through.
Barbie celebrates her 65th birthday this year. The doll has long been a conduit for play for children and adults alike, but also an unlikely agent for countless ideas. Her houses, fashions, vehicles and even her face, hair and body can be seen as a pink-tinted reflection of western culture.
Entering the exhibition space, visitors are confronted with what many collectors refer to as “Number 1 Barbie”. Incredibly coveted and rare, this first edition of the doll (released in 1959) is the oldest Barbie in any UK museum collection. She appears in her iconic black and white striped swimsuit, with hand-painted features and her hair styled in a satisfyingly swooped ponytail.
