The show’s name is taken from a quote by Buckminster Fuller: “Ninety-nine percent of who you are is invisible and untouchable.” Its goal is to expose the unseen and overlooked aspects of design, architecture, and activity in the world. Each episode generally focuses on a single topic or specific example of design, often including interviews with architects, experts, or people who have been influenced by the design.
In 2014, 99% Invisible began its fourth season, the first in which it had a weekly release schedule. 2018 staff include episode producers Avery Trufelman, Katie Mingle, Delany Hall, Emmet FitzGerald, technical producer Sharif Yousseff, administrative assistant Taryn Mazza, musical composer Sean Real, and digital director Kurt Kohlstedt.