Before Barbie became a surgeon, astronaut, or marine biologist, she was Lilli, a German comic-strip character who embodied the post-war ideal woman—independent, flirtatious, and unapologetically confident. This interactive digital exhibition, hosted on the Brooklyn Museum website, uncovers the doll’s undisclosed past, revealing the transformation from Lilli to the beloved figure of Barbie.

The Lilli doll debuted in Germany in 1955, based on the popular comic in the tabloid newspaper Bild. She represented the ideal post-war woman—independent, flirtatious, selective with men, youthful, attractive, and confident. Unlike her American successor, the Lilli doll was not marketed to children and was sold at newsstands rather than toy shops. During a 1956 vacation, Mattel co-founder Ruth Handler discovered the doll and brought three back home. After making minor tweaks, Mattel released the first Barbie in 1959.

To capture Lilli’s enigmatic essence, this digital exhibition uses solid colors in irregular forms. These colors symbolize reality, while the shapes represent the misconceptions surrounding Lilli, often misunderstood as merely a sexualized figure due to translation gaps from the original comic. Additionally, Barbie-inspired elements evoke familiarity and engagement.

The accompanying ad campaign highlights the exhibition’s interactive features and unveils Barbie’s undisclosed past. The strategic choice of subway digital screen advertising targets a diverse audience in high-traffic urban environments. This medium ensures extended exposure, allowing people to engage with the ads during wait times. QR codes on each ad direct traffic to the online exhibition, making the campaign effective and cost-efficient. The tagline “The story of Barbie is also the story of…” connects Lilli and Barbie, with a fun fact about Lilli to spark interest in the exhibition.

Throughout the exhibition, visitors can immerse themselves in a playful experience such as changing the doll’s outfit and transforming the illustration into a doll, or transforming Lilli into Barbie. This feature invites hands-on exploration and highlights the striking similarities between Lilli and Barbie.