# Iconic Doll-Inspired Exhibitions Barbie: The Exhibition Opens at London's Design Museum By Amy Duong | Published 2024-07-07 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/barbie-the-exhibition References: [dezeen](https://www.dezeen.com/2024/07/05/barbie-exhibition-design-museum/) & [designmuseum.org](https://designmuseum.org/exhibitions/barbie-the-exhibition)  Barbie: The Exhibition opens its doors at London's Design Museum where a rich history of [Barbie dolls and dreamhouses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dunkin-barbie-dreamhouse) adorn the space. The curation showcases the shift in visual culture that took place over the toy's 65 years. There are [over 250 objects on display](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/design-burger) at Barbie: The Exhibition and it explores the plethora of [aesthetic and cultural decisions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/barbie-3) that were considered when creating Barbie and how she has changed with time. Danielle Thom, curator of the exhibition speaks about the toy's influence throughout the years and explains, "What I would really like visitors to take away from the show, whether they've come as Barbie fans or Barbie skeptics but with an interest in design, is that there is actually a very complex and intentional set of design processes that go into creating the dolls and the accessories. I want people to realise that Barbie is a worthy proposition from a design point of view Image Credit: Jo Underhill ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.0/10 - Popularity: 49% | Activity: 46% | Freshness: 25% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Design-focused Toy Exhibitions:** Exhibitions such as Barbie: The Exhibition reveal the intentional and intricate design processes behind iconic toys, highlighting the intersection of play and art. - **Cultural Evolution of Toys:** Display events that track the evolution of toys like Barbie demonstrate how cultural and aesthetic shifts inform product iterations over decades. - **Historical Toy Aesthetics:** Explorations of toys' historical aesthetics, like those presented at Barbie: The Exhibition, show how design choices reflect broader cultural contexts. ### Who This Affects Most - **Toy Manufacturing:** The toy manufacturing industry gains insight into the long-standing impact of design choices via exhibitions that trace the historical development of products like Barbie. - **Museum and Exhibitions:** Museums and exhibition spaces can attract diverse audiences by curating shows that highlight the complex design narratives of culturally significant toys. - **Design and Culture:** The intersection of design and cultural analysis is elucidated through exhibitions that showcase the rigorous design processes behind iconic dolls such as Barbie. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Doll-Centric Festival Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/barbie-dream-fest.md) - [Doll-Inspired Modern Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pavilions-of-wonder.md) - [Iconic Pink Doll Trucks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dreamhouse-living-tour.md) - [Skateboard Design Museum Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/skateboard-exhibition.md) - [Life-Sized Doll Dreamhouses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/barbies-dreamhouse.md) - [Architectural Toy Publications](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/barbie-dreamhouse-an-architectural-survey.md) - [Director-Celebrating Artful Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/world-of-tim-burton.md) - [Doll-Themed Café Pop-Ups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/malibu-barbie-cafe.md) - [Dollhouse-Themed Cafe Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dunkin-barbie-dreamhouse.md)