LONDON, July 3 (Reuters) - A new exhibition looking at

the evolution of Barbie opens in London this week as the famed

Mattel ( MAT ) doll celebrates her 65th birthday this year.

"Barbie: The Exhibition", running at the Design Museum from

July 5 to Feb. 23, features more than 250 items from the Barbie

universe, including an array of dolls showing her changing

appearance, design sketches and dream houses.

On display is a first edition of the first Barbie released

in 1959 with blonde hair, angled eyes, dressed in a

black-and-white swimsuit, along with later models representing

different races, hair textures and shapes.

Other "firsts" include a Black Barbie and one in a

wheelchair. One section dedicated to career roles includes a

police officer, scientist, doctor, presidents and a voter, while

another focuses on Barbie's long-term companion Ken, who was

introduced in 1961.

"I hope that whatever your reason for coming to this show

..., whether you're a Barbie fanatic or whether you're a Barbie

sceptic, you come away with an appreciation of detailed research

and the rigorous design thinking that goes into the making of

Barbie," curator Danielle Thom said in an interview.

"I do hope that people come away having learned something

about ... how this brand has come into being and managed to

dominate the toy market for such a long period of time."

The exhibition coincides with Barbie's 65th birthday this

year and follows on the huge success of last year's "Barbie"

movie starring Margot Robbie, which grossed $1.4 billion at the

global box office.

"Barbie's resonance and culture has never been larger, more

prominent," Kim Culmone, senior vice president of design for

Mattel ( MAT ), said.