Imagining the Future of the Barbie Dreamhouse Studio challenged a team of interdisciplinary ArtCenter students to envision innovative forward-thinking ways of reimagining the iconic Barbie Dreamhouse for 2022 by responding to the cultural and societal needs of children around the world while creatively predicting how people will live, work and play in the future.
Students explored the dynamics of play as essential in childhood development through research, noted speakers, and observing focus groups interacting with the current iteration of the Barbie Dreamhouse. Drawing upon their own childhood experiences with toys and games, students imagined how the Dreamhouse could evolve to expand the concept of what home will mean in the future.
Through field exploration, ideation, and prototyping, students thoughtfully considered how Mattel could update the Dreamhouse to create a toy that’s fun to play with and will act as the trend maker of tomorrow, incorporating the possibilities of home in the future as well as encouraging the hopes and dreams of all children.
“So many people wondered about the social impact of this TDS. Barbie and Designmatters? Yes! I see this TDS as a brave and bold endeavor. I am so excited and energized by every brand going through DM now. This reminds me of the book “Responsible Company” by Yvon Chouinard who writes about the experience with Patagonia. While the impact can be what we do, you and I in our daily lives, but the more real impact happens in our role as workers and producers. The Mattels of the world — that’s where we will make a difference. Chouinard says that most of that difference, about 70 percent, happens at the design level. So it’s here, in places like Los Angeles, where we can steer that ship to have a positive social impact in the future. I am so excited.”
– Sherry Hoffman, Faculty Director, Designmatters
All images used with permission from Anna Wahlgren.