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 #237- Dollar Store Town (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
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Dollar stores are everywhere. They can be found in Australia and the United Kingdom, the Middle East and Mexico. And a lot of the stuff—the generic...

  • Added: Dec 05, 2016
  • Length: 15:49
99% Invisible #236-Reverb (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
Today, through a combination of passive and active acoustics, architects and acousticians can control the sounds of spaces to fit any kind of need....

  • Added: Nov 18, 2016
  • Length: 18:43
99% Invisible #235- Ten Letters For The President (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
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When President Barack Obama took office, he requested that his staff pass along ten letters each night from the American people. Unlike almost ever...

  • Added: Nov 18, 2016
  • Length: 13:57
99% Invisible #232- McMansion Hell (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
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If it's not already, McMansion Hell will be your new favorite website. Kate Wagner uses her keen eye for detail and razor sharp wit to teach princi...

  • Added: Oct 31, 2016
  • Length: 13:17
99% Invisible #233- Space Trash, Space Treasure (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
When we started launching stuff into space, no one thought we'd have to worry about running out of space. As we've discovered time and time again, ...

  • Added: Oct 31, 2016
  • Length: 16:31
99% Invisible #230- Project Cybersyn (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
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Running a country in a new way and the fab, space-age, midcentury modern ops room at the center. Katie Mingle has the story.

  • Added: Oct 26, 2016
  • Length: 20:53
99% Invisible #231- Half A House (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
In the wake of a devastating earthquake in Chile, architects of Elemental were called in to build a new community for families displaced by the dis...

Bought by HowSound


  • Added: Oct 26, 2016
  • Length: 18:02
  • Purchases: 1
99% Invisible #124-Longbox (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
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Whitney Jones of Pitch argues that R.E.M.'s Out of Time is the most politically important album in US history. How package design changed a law and...

  • Added: Oct 04, 2016
  • Length: 18:28
99% Invisible #229- The Trend Forecast (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
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There are a couple companies that determine what you are wearing...and buying...and eating. Avery visits the trend forecasters.

Bought by New Hampshire Public Radio


  • Added: Sep 30, 2016
  • Length: 15:35
  • Purchases: 1
99% Invisible #228- Making Up Ground (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
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Throughout history, the absence of land has proved to be a surprisingly small obstacle for people who want to build. From the buried Gold Rush ship...

  • Added: Sep 30, 2016
  • Length: 18:47
99% Invisible #226-On Average (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
The Average Joe is a myth.

  • Added: Sep 23, 2016
  • Length: 17:42
99% Invisible #227-The Road Taken (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
An interview with Henry Petroski about in's and out's of infrastructure.

  • Added: Sep 23, 2016
  • Length: 14:04
99% Invisible #222-Combat Hearing Loss (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
The most common wartime injuries often go unheard.

  • Added: Jul 29, 2016
  • Length: 16:22
99% Invisible #217-Home On Lagrange (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
While others predicted the end of the world, Gerry O'Neill designed a new era of space colonies that would capture the imagination of the world in ...

Bought by XRAY.fm


  • Added: Jul 25, 2016
  • Length: 26:06
  • Purchases: 1
99% Invisible #219-Unpleasant Design And Hostile Urban Architecture (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
User un-friendly design in the urban landscape.

Bought by XRAY.fm, KALW, and WABE


  • Added: Jul 22, 2016
  • Length: 14:05
  • Purchases: 3
99% Invisible #220-The Mind Of An Architect (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
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A study on creativity where famous architects contemplate life's big questions...like where we a third arm should be placed on a human body.

  • Added: Jul 22, 2016
  • Length: 21:27
99% Invisible #221-America's Last Top Model (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
One of the most reliable river models is now washed up.

  • Added: Jul 21, 2016
  • Length: 19:14
99% Invisible #213-Separation Anxiety (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
How taking out the trash became a musical ritual in Taiwan.

  • Added: Jul 15, 2016
  • Length: 15:56
99% Invisible #215-H-Day (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
Stick to the right Svenson.

Bought by MPR News Stations


  • Added: Jul 15, 2016
  • Length: 15:53
  • Purchases: 1
99% Invisible #216-The Blazer Experiment (Director's Cut)
From: Roman Mars
Series: 99% Invisible (Director's Cut)
Piece image
A gun, a badge, and a blazer: how one of the most conspicuous rebranding efforts in police history is still relevant today.

Bought by KALW and KPIK-LP


  • Added: Jul 14, 2016
  • Length: 21:37
  • Purchases: 2

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