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Is Barbiemania still a thing? While Mattel, Inc.’s Barbie may have debuted over six decades ago, her influence and relevance in pop culture and marketing are as strong as ever due to the movie release last year. Barbie isn't just a doll; she's a cultural touchstone that has evolved with the times while retaining her core values of inclusivity, creativity, and empowerment. Barbie represents limitless possibilities and inspires generations to dream. What can we learn from Barbie? It's about leaving a legacy. It's about creating a brand that transcends trends and resonates with people on a deeper level. It's about embodying authenticity, diversity, and inclusivity in everything you do. In our fast-paced world where trends come and go, leaving a lasting legacy in marketing is no easy feat. But by staying true to your values, embracing change, and inspiring others, you can create a brand that stands the test of time. How can you channel that into your marketing? #ContentCreation #Repurpose #SocialMediaTips

Barbie brought in over $1.4 billion at the worldwide box office and became one of the only female-dominated movies among the 20 top-grossing films OF ALL TIME. Mattel has calculated the revenue boost from the Barbie movie to be $125 million, including sales of dolls and related merchandise, and movie earnings. The majority of that revenue was realized in the third quarter. Guesstimates (because everything is hush hush about these kinds of things) are Mattel earned 5 percent of the box office revenue, as well as a percentage of eventual profits as a producer of the movie and additional payments as owner of the Barbie intellectual property rights. Art imitating life. Women get left out of all kinds of things where we should be acknowledged and celebrated. Let’s start talking about the generational trauma of countless women in history (both public and personal) that sits in all the bones and DNA of every woman of every color everywhere. And, men wonder why women are so angry.

Mattel's New Barbies: Reflecting a Changing World Mattel recently introduced a visually impaired Barbie with a cane and a Black Barbie with Down syndrome, adding to their diverse lineup showcased recently at the Phoenix Art Museum. This move raises the question: Is Mattel leading in inclusivity or responding to consumer demand? A 2017 study showed that 78% of consumers want companies to take stands on social issues, and we're seeing this trend across industries. Companies like The Real Real, Bombas, and Toms are focusing on social responsibility; Patagonia, Adidas, and Allbirds are prioritizing sustainability; Ben & Jerry's and Levi Strauss are engaging in social advocacy; while GoodRX and Instacart are improving accessibility. This shift suggests we may be moving from an era where products shaped consumer preferences to one where consumer values are driving product development and corporate policies. How might this trend impact other industries? Are we witnessing a fundamental change in the relationship between companies and consumers? #Inclusivity #ConsumerTrends #CorporateResponsibility

REPRESENTATION To ensure inclusivity, Mattel is launching its first blind Barbie doll. Senior vice-president of Barbie, Krista Berger, said, “We recognise that Barbie is much more than just a doll; she represents self-expression and can create a sense of belonging.” The doll, which is now available online and in-store, has been created to ensure societal representation of blind and low-vision children. Reportedly, the company worked with the American Foundation for the Blind to accurately depict people with blindness and low vision. Barbie would be carrying a white and red cane with marshmallow tips and eyes gazing slightly up and out. The packaging has also been made more accessible, including the word ‘Barbie’ written in braille on the front of the box. Apart from the first blind Barbie, Mattel also partnered with the National Down Syndrome Society - an American organisation - to launch its first black doll with Down’s syndrome. Last year, Mattel launched a white doll with Down’s syndrome. Image Source - The Independent #barbie #barbiedoll #mattel #blindbarbie #inclusivity #representation #representationmatters #america #usa #downsyndrome #blindness

Some food for thought… A few months ago, Barbie took a great step towards inclusivity by releasing a line of disabled dolls. The fashionista line includes a diverse range of dolls, including a barbie wearing an hearing aid, a ken doll with vitiligo, a barbie on a wheelchair… This video is the prime example of the current problem with brands and accessibility. You can not create a line of dolls in wheelchairs and choose to place them on the very top shelf in stores, completely out of reach for wheelchair users. I really want to give brands the benefit of the doubt, but with situations like this one, it’s becoming very hard! Placements in stores are usually very well thought through, with bestsellers put right at eye level for kids, etc. Does that mean that the same effort wasn’t put in marketing this collection? Or does it mean that they don’t believe this line would sell? Product is only step 1 of creating an inclusive and accessible line. If you need help figuring out where to start with improving your accessibility, let’s get in touch and talk about it! [video description: content creator @chronicallybeingme in their wheelchair in a toy store, excited to see the barbie fashionista line "so excited to see so many different wheelchair Barbie dolls", then sad as they realize that they are all out of reach on the very top shelf "but they're on the very top shelf"] #Accessibility #Inclusivity #AccessibilityConsultancy

𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗶𝗲: 𝗔 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗨𝗻𝘄𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳 Ruth Handler's journey to create the world-famous Barbie doll is a masterclass in leadership, vision, and relentless pursuit of innovation. It all started with Ruth, her husband Elliot, and their friend Harold Matson, who began selling picture frames under a new company they named Mattel – a name derived from combining “Matt” and “Elliot.”  Ruth saw an opportunity in children's toys, leading to the creation of the first Mattel toy, the Ukadoodle ukulele. 🎸 On a trip to Switzerland in 1956, Ruth encountered the Bild Lilli doll – a novelty item for adults. But where others saw a gag gift, Ruth saw the potential for a more sophisticated doll for little girls.  Everyone told her that mothers would never buy their daughters a doll with adult features, but Ruth wasn't deterred. She hired a child psychologist and conducted focus studies, realizing there was a market gap: a doll that represented a more mature, aspirational figure for girls, not just baby dolls. Even after a failed Toy Fair in 1959 with no buyers, Ruth didn’t back down. She believed in Barbie so strongly that she doubled Mattel's advertising budget and targeted kids directly through TV commercials.  Her determination paid off – over 300,000 Barbies were sold in the first year, revolutionizing the toy industry. Ruth continued to innovate, introducing diverse Barbie careers, from astronauts to presidents, aligning with social movements like feminism and civil rights. Barbie was never just a doll; she became an icon representing endless possibilities for girls everywhere.  𝙇𝙀𝘼𝘿𝙀𝙍𝙎𝙃𝙄𝙋 𝙇𝙀𝙎𝙎𝙊𝙉𝙎 • 𝗦𝗲𝗲 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁: Ruth saw a potential market where everyone else saw a dead-end. Great leaders are visionary, turning obstacles into opportunities. • 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗗𝗼𝘂𝗯𝘁: Ruth faced countless rejections and skepticism but stayed steadfast in her belief. Leadership often means sticking to your convictions, even against popular opinion. • 𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗹𝘆: Barbie evolved to reflect societal changes, keeping her relevant across generations. Leaders must be flexible and responsive to the times while staying true to their core values. #leadership #learnfromthebest #learningcurator #barbie

Stuff equivalent to this is why in learning design I try to advocate both for accessibility and inclusion and for learning design to be a holistic process closer to a service design model.

What is the real story of Barbie? Ruth Handler's Inspiration Behind the Barbie Doll. Barbara, Handler's daughter, served as the muse for Barbie's creation after Handler observed her playing with paper dolls. Driven by a desire to inspire children to envision their future dreams, she sought to innovate beyond the common plastic baby dolls of the time.11 Why are Barbies so famous? Barbie, dreamt up by Mattel co-founder Ruth Handler, was the first “fashion doll” who had the body and stature of an adult woman. Girls could project their future selves onto the doll rather than care for her. Eventually, they could dress her up to be a doctor, an astronaut, or even president of the United States India, #Innovation, #Management, #HumanResources, #DigitalMarketing, #Technology, #Creativity, #Future, #Community, #Givingback.

Parents, we know how important it is for our kids to see themselves reflected in the world around them. Here's the latest about Mattel’s new Blind Barbie... it comes with an adaptive clothing line designed by Alexa Jovanovic of Aille Design (pronounced Eye Design), adorned with braille. Recently featured in the Toronto Star, this collaboration is more than just about looking good—it’s about making sure every child feels seen and empowered. The beautiful models of inclusion—Mara Lauren Hutchinson, a legally blind content creator; Chelsea Langerud, a visually impaired writer; and Lolanta (Lana) Mamatkazina, a 13-year-old legally blind opera singer—show us all how powerful representation can be. I don’t know about you but I. WANT. MORE. More representation, because every child deserves to see themselves in the toys they play with. This Barbie wears braille. But dare I suggest the next Barbie of inclusion be the ever-badass CP Ken Barbie? This Ken could stand for that (well, sorta 😆). 💪 Let's make it happen! #InclusionRevolution #DisabilityRepresentation #AdaptiveFashion #CerebralPalsy #BlindBarbie #AilleDesign #BarbieFashionistas #CerebralPalsyMom #ParentingWithPurpose #CerebralPalsyDad #SpecialNeedsParenting #SpecialNeedsParent

Let’s talk about The #Barbie Movie, media, and the #Oscars. The current media narrative is Greta Gerwig was “snubbed.” This is a lie. The Mattel doll commercial she directed was nominated for 8 Oscars including Best Picture. There is no universe where that constitutes a snub. But let’s consider why The Barbie Movie exists at all. For years, the impossiby curvy Barbie doll was considered a threat to the self-esteem of little girls. Mattel created The Barbie Movie to reform the public perception of their ostracized doll. Rather than see the movie for the cynical bit of corporate commmunication it is, people seem to think a doll company actually cares about female empowerment. Mattel has convinced people anything less than an Oscar nomination in EVERY Oscar category constitutes a sexist slight. In reality, Mattel’s doll commercial at best deserves one nomination: for production design. Everything else would be better recognized at the Clio awards. I find it disturbing how easily people are manipulated by corporate-led political propaganda. #mediacriticism #feminism