99% Invisible (Director's Cut)

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... Show full description


197 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
99% Invisible #53- The Xanadu Effect (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
Can a building be too big to fail?

  • Added: Dec 10, 2012
  • Length: 11:21
99% Invisible #67- Broken Window (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
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A geode, some broken glass, and an endless loop.

Bought by New Hampshire Public Radio and New Hampshire Public Radio


  • Added: Dec 27, 2012
  • Length: 11:43
  • Purchases: 2
99% Invisible #01- 99% Noise (Directors Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
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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 ABC, Troy Public Radio, XRAY.fm, and WTJU


  • Added: Nov 05, 2012
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 4
99% Invisible #60- Names v. The Nothing (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
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Atreyu, Falcore, Freeway Eddy

Bought by New Hampshire Public Radio, WABE, XRAY.fm, and WCAI / WNAN Cape & Islands, Mass.


  • Added: Dec 27, 2012
  • Length: 13:01
  • Purchases: 4
99% Invisible #61- A Series of Tubes (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
A last mile problem and the pneumatic solution

  • Added: Dec 27, 2012
  • Length: 15:53
99% Invisible #62- Q2 (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
The access to your queue has been queued.

Bought by Rhythm & News Service


  • Added: Dec 27, 2012
  • Length: 13:23
  • Purchases: 1
99% Invisible #65- Razzle Dazzle (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
This is probably not what you think of when you think of camouflage.

Bought by New Hampshire Public Radio, WJCT, KUT, WCAI / WNAN Cape & Islands, Mass., and KUOW


  • Added: Dec 28, 2012
  • Length: 10:15
  • Purchases: 5
99% Invisible #63- The Political Stage (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
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Seven-and-a-half secrets from the campaign trail.

Bought by KUT


  • Added: Dec 28, 2012
  • Length: 12:07
  • Purchases: 1
99% Invisible #66- Kowloon Walled City (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
The densest place in human history.

Bought by WABE, KALW, Louisville Public Media, The Story, and KUT


  • Added: Dec 28, 2012
  • Length: 14:54
  • Purchases: 5
99% Invisible #68- Built For Speed (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
How long are lines on a highway?

Bought by New Hampshire Public Radio, WABE, WJCT, KUT, and The Story


  • Added: Dec 28, 2012
  • Length: 10:03
  • Purchases: 5
99% Invisible #64- Derelict Dome (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
A dome, a zither, and the American Dream.

Bought by 90.1 WFYI Public Radio, KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio, Louisville Public Media, WCAI / WNAN Cape & Islands, Mass., The Story and more


  • Added: Dec 28, 2012
  • Length: 13:47
  • Purchases: 6
99% Invisible #69- The Brief and Tumultuous Life of the New UC Logo
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
Emotions run wild in a branding identity campaign.

Bought by Louisville Public Media and KUT


  • Added: Jan 11, 2013
  • Length: 23:28
  • Purchases: 2
99% Invisible #70- The Great Red Car Conspiracy
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
If you think you know this story, you probably have it backwards.

Bought by New Hampshire Public Radio, WCAI / WNAN Cape & Islands, Mass., The Story, KPCC, KUT and more


  • Added: Jan 11, 2013
  • Length: 12:30
  • Purchases: 6
99% Invisible #71- In and Out of LOVE (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
Follow a breadcrumb trail of black wax and wheel marks to a secret war over public space.

Bought by WABE, The Story, and KUT


  • Added: Jan 23, 2013
  • Length: 16:09
  • Purchases: 3
99% Invisible #72- New Old Town
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
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The recreation of a town that never was.

Bought by KALW, The Story, and KUT


  • Added: May 13, 2013
  • Length: 17:59
  • Purchases: 3
99% Invisible #73- The Zanzibar and Other Building Poems
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
A poet makes a city.

Bought by WABE and XRAY.fm


  • Added: May 13, 2013
  • Length: 11:28
  • Purchases: 2
99% Invisible #74- Hand Painted Signs
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
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The last practitioners of disappearing art form that's poised to make a comeback

Bought by New Hampshire Public Radio, WABE, Georgia Public Broadcasting, and The Story


  • Added: May 13, 2013
  • Length: 11:51
  • Purchases: 4
99% Invisible #75- Secret Staircases
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
The secret public stairs that wind through our neighborhoods

Bought by New Hampshire Public Radio, WABE, XRAY.fm, KUT, WCAI / WNAN Cape & Islands, Mass. and more


  • Added: May 13, 2013
  • Length: 11:00
  • Purchases: 6
99% Invisible #76- The Modern Moloch (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
The story of America's "love affair" with cars was as much a product of the auto industry as the car itself.

Bought by XRAY.fm, KALW, WCAI / WNAN Cape & Islands, Mass., and KUT


  • Added: May 13, 2013
  • Length: 21:24
  • Purchases: 4
99% Invisible #77- Game Changer
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
The two tweaks to basketball that made it the sports juggernaut it is today.

Bought by XRAY.fm, KMUZ, The Story, Louisville Public Media, and KUT


  • Added: May 13, 2013
  • Length: 11:46
  • Purchases: 5

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