Designing Barbie: Manufacturing, Materials, and Miscalculations

Sure, Barbie is a cultural icon and scores of books could be (and have been) written about what she MEANS. And you could probably even decide to make a huge Hollywood blockbuster about her. But she is WAY more interesting as a manufactured object with a lot to tell us about how design works. And how it doesn't.

[@MsCheapface]

Thank you Mathew Bird for adding to your design history content! I was so happy to get this alert! Please, you offer so much...don't be a stranger...keep feeding us design romantics the good nourishment! I appreciate you.

[@HeatherFeather257]

We missed you, Matthew! Thank you for the new “class”! 😊

[@rokurussell9862]

Dr. Bird! You're back on KZbin! We missed you! Your history of design course kept us (70 y o retirees) enthralled during the covid lockdown.

[@Tito_Viera]

Thanks Matthew is feels and it is really good see you again taking us in a excursion in the fields of industrial design. Always something to learn with you.

[@DigitalMastery]

I also have zero care about Barbie, but could listen to you talk about it for hours. You are so passionate about design history and make it so interesting that I love you KZbin channel. I hope you keep up with posting new content whenever you have time since I don't know of many other sources for info about design history that is as engaging as what you produce.

[@AnnaMacgregor1969]

The sequence in which we get to see a moment of the manufacturing phase of doll heads is creepier/better than any horror movie’s special effects! Fascinating and entertaining lecture- ¡Muchas gracias, Maestro Matt!

[@JenEdin]

Thank you, Prof Bird! I’ve missed your lectures. I’ve never thought about the details about Barbie’s design evolution and I learned a lot! Love your jacket! Cheers!

[@rompompomkladivo6623]

Im so happy to see a new video from the professor Bird too. I thought the vids ended as the epidemic came to an end. Very happy morning. Regards to the professor from Slovenia!

[@hogan3372]

Such an interest perspective! Usually i only see history on the culture of barbie not the actual manufacturing. Thank you!

[@estherwijnbeek8072]

That was one of the best documentaries on toy history I have seen; Bravo! I have always been interested in how and why things are being made and this video gave me more insights.

[@eris7070]

omg!!!! new video!!!! yes!!!!! what a wonderful treat, didn't think we'd ever hear from you again hahaha

[@patriciaburns1033]

Oh my giddy aunt!, The fourth largest clothes manufacturer in America is crackers, dolls clothes?, My heart literally leapt when your vid popped up Mathew, I constantly refer to your content to prove points and find info, this is an excellent showcase of the evolution of the skinny plastic woman throughout her history, thank you for sharing your mind blowing knowledge and gorgeous, quirky taste, it's such a treat, Bravo!

[@homelessbastard7576]

Oh man, this is such a pleasant surprise!

[@1st1anarkissed]

Wow, I never would have thought someone could make me appreciate barbie, but this tech innovation history really has done it. fascinating!

[@deborahdavis6801]

Have missed you and what an amazing job you do presenting sooo much information on primarily the industrial design but also the social comments. Please keep doing these!!!

[@msrainsford2513]

This has made my day - my week - my MONTH! I ran to make a cup of coffee and now I’m glued to the screen. Welcome back, Matthew!

[@Tirebouchon325]

So happy to see you posting a video. Excellent content, as always. Made me care about Barbie way more than I want to.

[@lisad1993]

I am constantly telling people lately about Wheels n Heels, so this makes me ecstatic :)

[@delusionnnnn]

Always a pleasure to see another video on this channel.

[@armymenaroundthehouse]

Thanks for another great lecture. It's hard to explain how much help I've found for my hobby work in your lectures.

[@hopelesswonderchild]

GREAT TO SEE YOU AGAIN MISTER ! ! !

[@Polkadotpup]

I’m so glad to see you posting. Great video….I look forward to more.

[@pieternoordenbos]

Just great to see that you're back Mathew Bird. I am not a student but I learned a lot watching your vids. I hope to see more vids of you in the near future. Could you make an episode about the glass industry in France at the beginning of the Art Nouveau era?

[@petr0w]

I remember my mom having some weird bald Barbie's that came with bubble cut wigs, now I'm so curious if they were off brand or not

[@brunollos1111]

Thank you for this video, and the pink! Cheers!

[@fontende]

Wow, new video, we waited so much 😍😌 patiently for your great lectures.

[@onscreenstudio7070]

Thank you so much for uploading these videos. I took your class when I went to risd and think about it all the time.

[@hebakhalifa5672]

Thank you very much for uploading and was very happy to see the notification of your new upload, your lectures are always interesting and truly informative and much appreciated

[@carolinecog]

Missed your content so much!!!

[@keithluck8517]

I am very happy to see you again and gain insight with this latest installment of History of Industrial Design! Keep up the good work...despite the motorcycles. ;-)

[@isaacraine]

thank you so much - you are always fascinating and what I learn in these lectures applies allover in life.

[@marrs_andersen]

Fascinating! Thank you!!

[@annav4055]

Huge thanks for this video! It was really interesting:) hope to see more vids from you.

[@twestgard2]

This was very interesting. Thank you.

[@jerazi3936]

Vielen Dank, für ihre erhellenden Videos / Gedanken/Ausführungen zu Industriedesign! Ich schätze diese sehr. >>> Thank you for your enlightening videos/thoughts/explanations on industrial design! I appreciate these very much.

[@abzh1976]

Thank you so much for this! Really informative and interesting. ❤

[@nijoodubey3164]

coral red jacket 😍

[@stephanelacoste2904]

Merci

[@fontende]

I hope you will make with some startup an Ai assistant with your voice or figure 😊

[@wilderdede]

Bravo. Like all your lectures, fascinating. Hope you return to some of the mentioned but unexplored details? I loved the movie for its' political insight and the art direction. Never had a Barbie.

[@urlyturtle]

Was never interested in Barbie, or dolls generally (unless one counts a gifted Ginny doll with “polio shots” - staple holes in her back from clothes torn off by me), but your ID lens looks fascinating! Thanks Matthew, and thanks for pointing me to your yt channel!❤

[@frida507]

This was interesting!

[@YellowFreesias]

Thank you for suffering through this lecture for us! 😂

[@imabarbiecollector]

Why did they get rid of the holes in the feet stand? I get improvements but getting rid of the stand is crazy to me all the flimsy stands they just seam to get worse by the year. The holes in the feet stand are perfect I love when I get a reproduction doll that has that stand! ❤❤

[@slime0612]

omg you are back

[@PolRaDaemon]

Absolutely smashing video! Very interesting, and I have zero interest in Barbie as a doll or movie. It was interesting to see how similar advancements have affected "action figures" and vinyl/resin statuary.

[@jayerjavec]

Still alive and mysterious. That's a good day in my book.

[@user-wq3pf2ry5t]

OMG yes

[@lousylionn455]

This is a wonderful video, but I really feel it skimmed past bild lilli. This isn't a video about bild lilli of course but I feel it doesn't give her near enough credit

[@harleyreed1888]

Would it be totally unhinged of me to suggest someone should make merch for super fans of History of ID as taught by Matthew Bird?

[@HomeBuiltByHoward]

As a designer and teacher, my wife won't listen to me talk about design no matter how excited I am... But she loves your content! Please, please, please make more.

[@clarissafortuna]

love your videos! my favorite youtube boyfriend 💘

[@shawnbay2211]

i care about barbie; i care about sociology; and i care about design. this fulfils two 😁. wh says one cant be multifaceted? certainly not barbie, lol.

[@danjohnston3422]

Holy hell - so much terrible hair. I kinda like Mutant Zombie Barbie. Cut her ponytail and suddenly Barbie's world gets pretty frickin' dark... And it's very cool that American Girl Barbie has a dueling scar.