The evolution of Barbie: an exhibition about the most famous doll has opened in London

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July 5th marks the day that the long-awaited Barbie exhibition will open at the Design Museum in London. It also marks the 65th anniversary of the creation of the doll, forging a landmark in pop culture that would perpetually influence trends and tastes. Visit the exhibition to get a close glimpse of the evolution of Barbie, this time through a design lens as the focus lies on fashion, architecture, furniture, and vehicle design. Afisha.London magazine offers an early peek into the Barbie world.

The Barbie experience at the Design Museum occurs upon a chronological walk-through starting with a pink embrace of the first ever Barbie doll — “Number 1 Barbie”. In this otherwise empty room, the evolution of the most popular doll begins. The exhibition is divided into various themes, each underlining the importance that the blonde little kids-toy once held before “evolving and reflecting culture” to date.

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To see is an overwhelming collection of miniature dresses, wigs, handbags, and cars that would occupy our childish fantasies all too well. Highlights of the exhibition are some specially acquired artefacts, straight from the Mattel Inc Barbie archive in California. The Samantha Cristoforetti Barbie is a unique doll that actually made it to outer space, where she spent 6 months orbiting Earth. To display is also a scarce example of the first-ever Barbie Dream house, and as it should be, a whole array of Ken’s ranging from various ethnicities and shapes. So is Barbie herself, as the exhibition highlights her partake in inclusivity, including Black Barbie, Hispanic Barbie, disabled Barbie, Curvy Barbie, and more.

: Samantha Cristoforetti and her Barbie in Space. Photo: @designmuseum

: Highlights of the exhibition. Photo: @afisha.london

Not to be missed is “Barbie and Fashion” — a room dedicated to her perhaps biggest impact on culture and vice versa. Marking her status as a fashion icon, you get to see some of Barbie’s original clothes, such as “Poodle Parade”, worn later by famous singer Billie Eilish.

Lastly, an aluminium-foil-draped room displays the Barbie of today. Margot Robbie’s face on the poster of the latest Barbie movie is surprisingly the last to spot. Visitors see Barbie on the cover of multiple Fashion magazines such as Vogue, TIME, and Forbes, where she was once listed as part of “The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women”.

Barbie®: The Exhibition at the Design Museum runs from 05 July 2024 till 23 February 2025. Learn more

Cover photo: @designmuseum

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