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


69 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
99% Invisible #67- Broken Window (Standard 4:30 version)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Standard Length)
Piece image
A geode, some broken glass, and an endless loop.

  • Added: Dec 27, 2012
  • Length: 04:30
99% Invisible #59- Some Other Sign That People Do Not Totally Regret Life (Standard 4:30 version)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Standard Length)
Piece image
Call it a "fentence."

Bought by New Hampshire Public Radio and KFAI


  • Added: Dec 11, 2012
  • Length: 04:29
  • Purchases: 2
99% Invisible #21- BLDGBLOG On Sound (Standard 4:30 Version Only)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Standard Length)
Piece image
The word of the day is: archaeoacoustics.

Bought by KUOW, The Story, and North Country Public Radio


  • Added: Dec 19, 2011
  • Length: 04:31
  • Purchases: 3
99% Invisible #01- 99% Noise (Standard 4:30 Version)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Standard Length)
Piece image
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 WBEZ, KUOW, North Country Public Radio, and KUT


  • Added: Oct 07, 2010
  • Length: 04:21
  • Purchases: 4
99% Invisible #02- 99% 180 (Standard 4:30 Version Only)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Standard Length)
Piece image
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 WBEZ, KUOW, North Country Public Radio, and KUT


  • Added: Oct 07, 2010
  • Length: 04:30
  • Purchases: 4
99% Invisible #03- 99% Reality (only) (Standard 4:30 Version Only)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Standard Length)
Piece image
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 KUOW and North Country Public Radio


  • Added: Oct 07, 2010
  • Length: 04:30
  • Purchases: 2
99% Invisible #04- 99% Details (Standard 4:30 Version Only)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Standard Length)
Piece image
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 North Country Public Radio


  • Added: Oct 07, 2010
  • Length: 04:33
  • Purchases: 1
99% Invisible #05- 99% Forgotten (Standard 4:30 Version Only)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Standard Length)
Piece image
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 KUOW, KUT, and North Country Public Radio


  • Added: Oct 07, 2010
  • Length: 04:30
  • Purchases: 3
99% Invisible #06- 99% Symbolic (Standard 4:30 Version Only)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Standard Length)
Piece image
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 WBEZ, KUOW, WFPL News, KUT, North Country Public Radio and more


  • Added: Oct 11, 2010
  • Length: 04:30
  • Purchases: 6
99% Invisible #07- 99% Alien (Standard 4:30 Version Only)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Standard Length)
Piece image
When it comes to designing livable habitats in outer space, engineers have long figured out how to provide astronauts with the basics. But how do ...

Bought by KUOW, North Country Public Radio, and KUT


  • Added: Dec 19, 2011
  • Length: 04:30
  • Purchases: 3
99% Invisible #08- 99% Free Parking (Standard 4:30 Version)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Standard Length)
Piece image
No one's favorite part of living in an urban area is finding a place to park your car. But a re-designed parking system in San Francisco may take ...

Bought by WFPL News, North Country Public Radio, and KUOW


  • Added: Dec 19, 2011
  • Length: 04:32
  • Purchases: 3
99% Invisible #09- 99% Private (Standard 4:30 Version)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Standard Length)
Piece image
If a public space is owned by a corporation, just how "public" is it?

Bought by KUOW, Vermont Public Radio, KUT, and North Country Public Radio


  • Added: Dec 19, 2011
  • Length: 04:30
  • Purchases: 4
99% Invisible #10- 99% Sound and Feel (Standard 4:30 version)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Standard Length)
Piece image
Even though he was deaf, Beethoven wrote some of the greatest works of music of all time. So when Chris Downey started losing his sight, he didn't...

Bought by KUOW and North Country Public Radio


  • Added: Dec 19, 2011
  • Length: 04:29
  • Purchases: 2
99% Invisible #11- 99% Undesigned
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Standard Length)
Piece image
Almost everything in modern life is designed to waste energy. If you feel OK about this--well, that's also by design.

Bought by KUOW, North Country Public Radio, and KUT


  • Added: Dec 19, 2011
  • Length: 04:31
  • Purchases: 3
99% Invisible #12- 99% Guilt Free
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Standard Length)
Piece image
A new streetlamp offers more by giving less.

Bought by KUOW, Vermont Public Radio, and North Country Public Radio


  • Added: Dec 19, 2011
  • Length: 04:29
  • Purchases: 3
99% Invisible #13- Maps
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Standard Length)
Piece image
I’m sorry, but if you don’t love maps, I don’t think we can be friends anymore.

Bought by KUOW, Vermont Public Radio, and North Country Public Radio


  • Added: Dec 19, 2011
  • Length: 04:30
  • Purchases: 3
99% Invisible #15- Sounds of the Artificial World (Standard 4:30 Version)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Standard Length)
Piece image
Without their beeps and chimes, all of your modern conveniences would be very hard to use.

Bought by North Country Public Radio


  • Added: Dec 19, 2011
  • Length: 04:31
  • Purchases: 1
99% Invisible #14- The Periodic Table (Standard 4:30 Version)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Standard Length)
Piece image
The Periodic Table knew what our universe was made out of even before we did.

Bought by KUOW, North Country Public Radio, and KZYX


  • Added: Dec 19, 2011
  • Length: 04:30
  • Purchases: 3
99% Invisible #16- A Designed Language (Standard 4:30 Version)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Standard Length)
Piece image
In the language that means hope, the sky is blueing.

Bought by The Story and North Country Public Radio


  • Added: Dec 19, 2011
  • Length: 04:29
  • Purchases: 2
99% Invisible #18- Check Cashing Stores (Standard 4:30 Version)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Standard Length)
Piece image
One could argue that check cashing stores do a lot of things that are just plain wrong. But given so many people use them, what are they doing right?

Bought by North Country Public Radio, New Hampshire Public Radio, and KUOW


  • Added: Dec 19, 2011
  • Length: 04:31
  • Purchases: 3

Playlists That Feature This Series: