The idea for Architect Barbie emerged out of a 2007 exhibition at the University of Michigan’s Architecture School, curated by Professor Despina Stratigakos, for which students and faculty designed prototypes for the doll as a way to explore and playfully critique stereotypes of architects. Kelly Hayes McAlonie and Dr. Stratigakos, colleagues at the University at Buffalo, joined forces in 2010 to lobby Mattel to produce the doll. Architect Barbie debuted at the 2011 AIA conference in New Orleans. She was Mattel’s 2011 Career of the Year and was named by the Wall Street Journal as one of the Hot Toys of the Year in December. University at Buffalo Master of Architecture students are photographing Architect Barbie around campus as a tribute to her original advocates.
Starting Out the Day in Studio...
Checking in on the Renovation of Hayes Hall...
Preparing to Work in the Materials and Methods Shop...
Always Measure Twice and Drill Once...
Just Keep Sawing, Just Keep Sawing...
Remember to Take Time to Stop and Smell the Sawdust...
Good Design Can Always Cause a "Chain" Reaction...
And There is No Better Way to End a Perfect Day...
...Than to Sit Through a Lecture
More on Architect Barbie can be found at:
http://www.buffalo.edu/news/fast-execute.cgi/article-page.html?article=125570009
More on Dr. Stratigakos’ work related to women in architecture can be found at: http://www.buffalo.edu/UBT/features/stratigakos.php
To view photo credits, click on thumbnail of image below.
Learn more about the research and creative activities of our enterprising students and faculty. At the School of Architecture and Planning, we engage with our local and global communities to push the boundaries of our disciplines and innovate the professions of architecture and planning.
2 Comments
I thought this post was great. Architect Barbie is a great leap forward in the fight for imbuing diversity and inclusion within the design fields to a younger generation. I hope you don't mind. I used some of your great pics and wrote a response that you can read here.
Sidenote: 301 is still looking fresh lol
Cute! The photos are great. I wish she had better clothes, but...don't we all.
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