The Power of Pink
by Ashley Buckowing, Graphic Designer
Everyone knows Barbie. Regardless of age, generation, and gender, Barbie is the most popular doll. I spent much of my childhood collecting new outfits, cars, Dream Houses (oh my!) and even the motorized lifesize Barbie Jeep was my go-to ride. But that little girl grew up and learned a thing or two about life when Barbie didn’t.
Barbie has had quite a bad reputation in recent years. As a precursor to the Barbie movie that took the media by storm this Summer, Hulu released ‘Tiny Shoulders’ which follows the Barbie team as they try different things to modernize their prized doll. The Barbie team does just about everything to make her modern, aside from the one thing they KNOW their audience is asking for, a new body for Barbie. The body type Barbie has had for much of her life (albeit some very slight change over the years) has been an impossibly tiny waist, large chest and, you guessed it, tiny shoulders, which sets impossible beauty standards for young girls looking up to her. That is, until now (ahem – finally).
Mattel put an astronomical amount of marketing dollars behind marketing the brand new, modern Barbie. Even if you have had or want nothing to do with her, chances are you’ve run across something pink. Not just pink, but Barbie Pink. And that’s where we are going – Mattel finally listened to their audience and took that signature color and put it everywhere to mark her new debut. They have done it so well, in fact, that just seeing the color sans logo automatically connects your mind to Barbie. This has even influenced fashion culture which has seen a skyrocketing amount of hot pink clothing selling, so much so that that color is selling out faster than any other.
The moral of this tumultuous story is to listen to your audience, give them what they are asking for, and take advantage of the thing that makes you different. Plus, a little pink never hurt anyone.
