Mars admits that the format means he struggles with some stories. "By definition the episodes are about the design of things that most people don't notice, so I need my subjects (or me, in some cases) to exhibit a kind of infectious enthusiasm for the topic to rope people in who otherwise wouldn’t care." The key to making this all work is finding the right people to talk to, says Mars. In many ways, the show is living proof of Steve Jobs' famous dictum that design is "not just what it looks like and feels like. "When you can't rely on that, you have to stick to the objects that have the best story, but aren't necessarily the most beautiful," says Mars. #99 INVISIBLE FULL#"When the images are secondary, the parallels between all the thought that goes into designing a flag and all the thought that goes into designing a public square are easier to fit into the big tent of design."ĭesign documentaries for screen are often full of shots that pan worshipfully over high-end objects. Mars says that this constraint is a source of strength. There's a special kind of madness involved in making a radio show about a traditionally visual discipline. >There's a special kind of madness involved in making a radio show about a traditionally visual discipline. "I signed on to produce the pilot, lobbied to expand the running time, and ultimately found this world of design and architecture was the perfect lens to view all kinds of stories that I loved," says Mars. #99 INVISIBLE SERIES#It began as a collaboration between KALW and the San Francisco Chapter of the American Institute of Architects to make a series of 'architecture minutes'. Mars's Podcast had all of those elements at the start. They just need a significant initial investment, freedom to experiment, and time to find an audience." "Small productions driven by a singular voice can make it…. It's too labor-intensive, but as a podcast and short run, regular series, it's a phenomenon," he says. "Radiolab could never be a weekly production. To do this, he's added two new metrics.īut the growth of the Internet as a distribution channel is beginning to level the playing field. Now he's looking to knock it out of the park. If you do know the show, you'll be delighted to learn that Mars' Kickstarter has been funded. Instead, themes and characters re-emerge over the course of the show. "I like that it's an ongoing series of short episodes because there's no pressure to answer every question or touch on every topic in each installment," says Mars. If you don't know the show, here are the basics: Episodes run 5-10 minutes, and cover some undersung element of design: from the shape of tugboat hulls to the carefully engineered clicks that keyboard keys make to the work of a blind architect. The show is on our must-listen playlist, and season three is our Kickstarter of the Week. In each episode, creator and host Roman Mars highlights some nearly invisible design process that you had no idea was incredibly interesting and then tells you why it is. The hugely inventive podcast 99% Invisible treats the design of everyday things like a forensic science.
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