99% Invisible (Standard Length)

Series produced by Roman Mars

Series image

Trying to comprehend the 99% invisible activity that shapes the design of our world.

A tiny radio show about design, architecture & the 99% invisible activity that shapes our world. From producer Roman Mars and KALW in San Francisco.

In August 2012, 99% Invisible became the highest-funded journalism project in Kickstarter history, raising over $170,000 from 5661 backers.

With over 4 million downloads online, 99% Invisible recently peaked at #2 in iTunes ranking for all podcasts in the US, and had occupied the #1 spot in both the Arts and Design categories.

"Roman Mars lights the radio. His pieces conjure other worlds, grapple with big ideas, make sound three dimensional. They are smart and funny and original. The Kitchen Sisters would like to be Presidents of his Fan Club."
-The Kitchen Sisters, Peabody Award-winning producers for NPR

"We think what he’s doing is inspiring. It has a kind of rhythm and musicality that you don’t normally find in radio or podcast storytelling."
-Jad Abumrad, Radiolab

"I love the show. It's wonderful. [It] actually reminded me of why I love radio."
-Jonathan Goldstein, CBC's WireTap

"Mars is the Ira Glass of design."
-Allison Arieff, The New York Times Opinionator design columnist

Learn more: http://99percentinvisible.org Hide full description

A tiny radio show about design, architecture & the 99% invisible activity that shapes our world. From producer Roman Mars and KALW in San Francisco. In August 2012, 99% Invisible became the highest-funded journalism project in Kickstarter history, raising over $170,000 from 5661 backers. With over 4 million downloads online, 99% Invisible recently peaked at #2 in iTunes ranking for all podcasts in the US, and had occupied the #1 spot in both the Arts and Design categories."Roman Mars lights the radio. His pieces conjure other worlds, grapple with big ideas, make sound three dimensional. They are smart and funny and original. The Kitchen Sisters would like to be Presidents of his Fan Club."-The Kitchen Sisters, Peabody Award-winning producers for NPR"We think what he’s doing is... Show full description


129 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
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Every major city in the US has a flag, but very few are part of city life. This 99% Invisible looks at the principles of good flag design and how t...

Bought by Rhythm & News Service, WOUB, Spokane Public Radio, Rhythm & News Service, 90.1 WFYI Public Radio and more


  • Added: Oct 11, 2010
  • Length: 04:30
  • Purchases: 21
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At the top of Mt. Olympus in San Francisco, on what was once thought to be the geographic center of the city, is a pedestal for a statue that isn’...

Bought by Rhythm & News Service, WOUB, Spokane Public Radio, Rhythm & News Service, 90.1 WFYI Public Radio and more


  • Added: Oct 07, 2010
  • Length: 04:30
  • Purchases: 18
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It’s a stick with bristles poking out of it. It doesn’t even qualify as a simple machine, but the careful thought and design that went into the cre...

Bought by Rhythm & News Service, WOUB, Spokane Public Radio, Rhythm & News Service, 90.1 WFYI Public Radio and more


  • Added: Oct 07, 2010
  • Length: 04:33
  • Purchases: 18
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There’s not much that we can do about all the physical matter that’s been designed and built by someone else. It is the way it is. But with the adv...

Bought by Rhythm & News Service, Rhythm & News Service, 90.1 WFYI Public Radio, WTJU, Spokane Public Radio and more


  • Added: Oct 07, 2010
  • Length: 04:30
  • Purchases: 17
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In the beginning, former AIA-SF president Henrik Bull and the Transamerica Pyramid did not get along. The building was an affront to late 1960’s m...

Bought by Rhythm & News Service, Spokane Public Radio, Rhythm & News Service, Spokane Public Radio, 90.1 WFYI Public Radio and more


  • Added: Oct 07, 2010
  • Length: 04:30
  • Purchases: 19
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This episode of 99% Invisible is all about acoustic design, the city soundscape, and how to make listening in shared spaces pleasant (or at the ver...

Bought by WFAE, Rhythm & News Service, WOUB, Spokane Public Radio, Rhythm & News Service and more


  • Added: Oct 07, 2010
  • Length: 04:21
  • Purchases: 21

  • Added: Dec 27, 2012
  • Length: 04:30
  • Purchases: 14