Faculty Forum

New performances, projects, research and scholarship from RISD faculty in conjunction with the Biennial Faculty Exhibition on selected dates at the Museum.

Matchbox Cars and Barbie Dolls: Wheels and Heels at the Norton Museum of Art
Toys are complicated; they must entertain, empower, educate, and above all delight, all in miniature. Our world has been transformed by advances in manufacturing and engineering developed to produce toys. Matthew Bird, Assistant Professor of Industrial Design, will present an overview of "Wheels and Heels," an exhibit he assembled for the Norton Museum of Art, which examined the history of two iconic toys lines, Barbies and Matchbox Cars, and explained designers' roles and process.

Matthew Bird, Assistant Professor of Industrial Design, has spent the last 25 years working in different parts of the art, design and gift professions. Trained as an Industrial Designer and metalsmith, his product design company distributes his designs to gift stores, museum stores, galleries and catalogs throughout the US and overseas. Matthew regularly participates in trade- and craft-show juries, and is a frequent guest critic and lecturer at various schools and universities. He has developed and managed multiple retail environments and participated as a designer and buyer for several others. First as an exhibitor, then as a marketing consultant, and later as a buyer, Matthew has attended hundreds of wholesale and retail trade shows, bringing him in contact with a wide range of manufacturers, designers and consumers.

Knowledge of contemporary product design and familiarity with manufacturing techniques got Matthew involved as an expert witness in copyright infringement cases. Matthew frequently designs and manufactures custom wares for a wide variety of institutions (including RISD, for which he designed the popular RISD tote bag, umbrella, multiple keyrings and even a school tie). His passion for history has led him more recently to focus on design projects for museums. He continues to claim his only true expertise to be song lyrics from the 1930s.
For additional program dates and more information on the RISD Faculty Biennial, click here.