02.03.16
Michael Bierut + Jessica Helfand | Audio

Guys and Dolls


Michael and Jessica talk about the proliferation of Barbie dolls in all shapes and shades, announced in Time magazine. They questioned “the decisions of the American toymaking industrial complex,” which (as seen in the lack of Rey action figures from the new Star Wars film) haven’t evolved much since Michael interned for Kenner’s ad agency back in Cincinnati.

Also mentioned:
  • The Daily Mail on Diet Barbie
  • “Math class is tough!”
  • More vintage Barbie Commercials. Some we didn’t mention but worth mentioning: Surprising Barbie; Malibu Barbie; Cool Shavin’ Ken; Potty Training Kelly; Barbie Dentiste (French)
  • The Barbie Dream Wiki
  • Popular Mechanics’ oral history of the Challenger disaste
  • Richard Feynman on the O ring

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    • Posted in: The Observatory




    Michael Bierut + Jessica Helfand Jessica Helfand, a founding editor of Design Observer, is an award-winning graphic designer and writer. A former contributing editor and columnist for Print, Eye and Communications Arts magazine, she is a member of Alliance Graphique Internationale and a recent laureate of the Art Director’s Hall of Fame. Jessica received both her BA and MFA from Yale University where she has taught since 1994. In 2013, she won the AIGA medal.

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