Kurt Kohlstedt is a design journalist and skeptical urbanist who writes, edits, and produces stories for 99% Invisible. His New York Times Best Seller, co-authored with show host Roman Mars, is a critically acclaimed book about the built world. The 99% Invisible City: A Field Guide to the Hidden World of Everyday Design also topped charts in Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. Tfhe book’s domestic and international popularity has since led to the publication of translated editions in a various languages, including Spanish, Czech, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese.
Kurt enjoys traveling, especially for work, gathering story ideas and presenting (or participating in panels) about cities and design. A few years back, he joined 99pi’s six-city East Cost tour, talking live about how Kindergarten catalyzed Modern art and design in Atlanta, Durham, Wahington. D.C., Boston, Brooklyn, and Manhattan. Kurt also teamed up with Roman for a presentation about regional designs at Adobe MAX. Among other panels, he joined an event at the AIA New York’s Center for Architecture to discuss urbanism and social media. He has given presentations on a range of subjects over the years, with a recent focus on adaptive tech (due to a debilitating injury).
During his tenure at 99% Invisible, the show has won a number of notable awards from the Third Coast Audio Festival, Discover Pods Awards, Webby Awards, and Academy of Podcasters Awards, in categories such as Best Podcast, People’s Choice, Society & Culture, and Arts. The show was also named one of the “50 best podcasts" by Time magazine.
Back in 2007, Kurt founded WebUrbanist, the first in a series of four urban architecture, art and design publications that would go on to reach hundreds of millions of readers around the world.
This endeavor led to speaking invitations, the farthest out of which came from the Highlands of Scotland. Kurt went to give the keynote speech at the annual Highlands and Islands Architecture Association (HIAA) award conference, centered on abandoned architecture and adaptive reuse.
Kurt studied philosophy (BA) at Carleton College before receiving a graduate degree in architecture (M. Arch) from the University of Washington’s College of Built Environments. As a student and young adult, he worked on residential, industrial, theatrical, furniture, graphic and web design projects — these practical experiences have shaped his work producing stories about the built world.
Lastly, light of all the stuff above, Kurt selfishly wishes to have a Wikipedia page. So if any of you beautiful nerds finds him worthy and is up for it, that would make for a lovely Christmas gift.
P.S. Feel free to reach out regarding speaking engagements, panels, and other professional (ad)ventures … or simpy to go grab a coffee and nerd together in the Twin Cities!
📧 Kurt à t urbanist dót us
