Opening to coincide with the 65th anniversary of the Barbie brand in 2024, the exhibition will map the Barbie legacy that started in 1959 when Ruth Handler wanted to craft a different narrative for her daughter, Barbara. It will explore the story of Barbie through a design lens, including fashion, architecture, furniture and vehicle design.

Through a new partnership with Mattel Inc., The Design Museum has been granted special access to the extensive Barbie archives in California, and dozens of rare and unique items will go on show alongside other key loans and acquisitions to tell the story of the iconic brand over the past six-and-a-half decades.