Beauty of “Barbie” Group 9b Linköping University.

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Beauty of BarbieGroup 9bLinkping University

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Most famous and Successful doll

Created by Ruth Handler in 1959

Didnt make impression at first, but was in Love for more than 50 years.Barbie is . . .Barbie, a most famous and successful doll, was created by Ruth Handler and for the first time it was produced in 1959. When it was presented on March 9, 1959 at the American International Toy Fair in New York City, the doll didnt make any tremendous impression, but somehow it stuck in hearts of customers for more than 50 years.http://www.nytimes.com/info/barbie/

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Toy for Girls and Adults

Barbie was meant to be a product for girls from 3 to 10 and also to be very affordable for parents. But it also became a toy/style-of-life/role-model for adult Barbie worshippers. As a majority of products, Barbie doll is a combination of functional, aesthetic and symbolic values. Values for different categories of customers are different. For example, adult admires of Barbie are less interested in functional value of this product. Symbolic and aesthetic values are essential regarding these consumers of Barbie product and culture (for example, collectioners, imitators of Barbie doll). Lets focus on Girls as a consumers and show main values of this product.

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Significance Substance

Significance & SubstanceDefining substance of Barbie nowadays it possible to name two aspects; first of all it is a toy; secondly it is an object of collecting, but in both cases popularity of Barbie is highly determined by dolls symbolic values and her role as an object of imitation.

Sugnificance is determinedby dolls aesthetic and symbolic values. Her role as an object of imitation. The creators of Barbie managed to form empathic understanding of Barbie and make the plastic doll talk with customers. Barbie has morphed into a legend and an icon. For Barbie is both mirror and model, reflection and avatar. Barbie is an artifact of female representation. Barbie reflected changing female desire and aims within time. The plastic doll became a symbol of females role evolution, symbol of sexual attractiveness, symbol of success. Barbie has her own life and 50 years of excellent storytelling. Many girls aimed to be like Barbie, girls who have grown up into women brought their love/obsession to Barbie to their adult lives. Barbie has become a plastic celebrity, a cultural icon. In 1985 the artist Andy Warhol created a painting of Barbie, along with portraits of Marilyn Monroe and Jane Fonda.http://www.nytimes.com/info/barbie/http://www.sikhspectrum.com/042003/barbie.htmhttp://www.forbes.com/2009/03/05/barbie-boll-art-business_art.html

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Barbie.

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Barbie is plastic doll with numerous of accessories. Entertainment for hoursMaster of world Fantasy

In the early 1950s, Mrs. Handler got the idea of creating an adult doll after observing her daughters fascination with adult paper dolls, whose clothing she was able to change

Functional value Girls see first of all a doll, toy that can entertain for hours, which have various types with many extra features such as house, pets and etc. Barbie is made to be a real life objects in any girls play world. Secondly girls see a beautiful young woman, almost from TV screen or magazine, which becomes main character in fantasy world, which this girls can shape whenever she wish; Barbie gives the children the experience of playing as a main character. Negatively or positively they also promotes luxurious life and how appearance can be important in leading a woman to success.

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most influential toys in shaping a girls childhood. It creates a self-image for girls to portray themselves as beautiful, independent, wealthy and successful as Barbie.

great impact on societyIt creates a competition between children in their toy-world and even parents as their providers. great impact on society

Aesthetic value

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An artifact of female representation

- reflect changing female desire and aims within time.

Symbol of females role evolution, symbol of sexual attractiveness, symbol of success. Symbolic value

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Barbie has her own life and 50 years of excellent storytelling - Girls aimed to be like Barbie

Barbie has become a plastic celebrity, a cultural icon

- In 1985 the artist Andy Warhol created a painting of Barbie , along with portraits of Marilyn Monroe and Jane Fonda, etc.Barbie.

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Barbie has morphed into a legend and an icon. For Barbie is both mirror and model, reflection and avatar.Empathic understandingAestheticSymbolicBEAUTY

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Competitive Advantage

The consumer is trendy - continuous imagery of females comparing themselves to Barbie

Phenomenon of escapism - It allows consumers to be innovative and escape reality while it gives complete control to the customers.

The culture created around Barbie. -Simple playing Millions $ painting-Strong brand rooted in everyday lifeThe consumer is trendy - continuous imagery of females comparing themselves to Barbie - the product itself needs no development; producers only need to update the accessories according to trends.

Phenomenon of escapism - It allows consumers to be innovative and escape reality while it gives complete control to the customers. - users can easily escape from reality, if only just for a while, through Barbie. - depends on consumers mindset

The culture created around Barbie. -Simple playing million $ painting-Strong brand rooted in everyday life

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Barbie = Icon, Symbol Not, just a plastic doll Cant be compared to others

Causal Ambiguity - why is it popular?

Never be out of fashion - Complements are changing

Sustain for 50 years !!!Sustainability

Emma AnderssonMooyoung SonMaral AntighechianKatsiaryna SkachkovaZebastian Nylund