The company that in fact conceived the HiddenRadio could hardly be more dissimilar to Apple, not least because there is no company. The HiddenRadio is a quintessentially new typology of product, not so much in terms of its form or even its functionality, but in the economic model to which it owes its existence—a model that would have been inconceivable just a few years ago, before a plethora of social media sparked off an inexorable transformation of pretty much every aspect of daily life. The story of the radio's genesis is the stuff of Internet mythology, and just one of several extraordinary success stories that have led in recent months to a frenzy of excitement around the crowd-funding website Kickstarter. Put simply, Kickstarter allows anyone with an idea for a "creative project" to seek backing for that project by posting a pitch in video form. A funding goal and timeframe is set; if a sufficient number of backers (or "investors", as Kickstarter describes them) pledge their support by making a credit card payment, and the goal is reached, Kickstarter releases funds to the project leader. In the case of the HiddenRadio, the funding goal of 125,000 dollars was smashed just days after the campaign was launched, and from there it marched on to collect 938,771 dollars by the campaign deadline of 18 January 2012.
![Top: The impossibility of producing the HiddenRadio through standard channels led Vitor Santa Maria (left) and John Van Den Nieuwenhuizen to try Kickstarter. Above: Gabriel Wartofsky worked on his foldable electric bike for two years. The funding he obtained allowed him to have 100 units produced Top: The impossibility of producing the HiddenRadio through standard channels led Vitor Santa Maria (left) and John Van Den Nieuwenhuizen to try Kickstarter. Above: Gabriel Wartofsky worked on his foldable electric bike for two years. The funding he obtained allowed him to have 100 units produced](/content/dam/domusweb/en/design/2012/04/25/the-kickstarter-revolution/big_381146_6682_080000121.jpg.foto.rmedium.jpg)
![Scott Wilson used Kickstarter to produce the TikTok+LunaTik Watch Kit Scott Wilson used Kickstarter to produce the TikTok+LunaTik Watch Kit](/content/dam/domusweb/en/design/2012/04/25/the-kickstarter-revolution/big_381146_9612_Michelle-Litvin_Scott-Wilson-231.jpg.foto.rmedium.jpg)
Whether or not Kickstarter actually changes the industry, it represents a sea change in the way we think about the industrial design process
![John Van Den Nieuwenhuizen + Vitor Santa Maria, <em>HiddenRadio & Bluetooth Speaker</em>, switched on by unscrewing the
lid, which also increases the volume —
$938,771 ($125,000 goal), 5,358 backers John Van Den Nieuwenhuizen + Vitor Santa Maria, <em>HiddenRadio & Bluetooth Speaker</em>, switched on by unscrewing the
lid, which also increases the volume —
$938,771 ($125,000 goal), 5,358 backers](/content/dam/domusweb/en/design/2012/04/25/the-kickstarter-revolution/big_381146_7221_kickstarter-2-31.jpg.foto.rmedium.jpg)
![Scott Wilson, <em>TikTok+LunaTik Multi-Touch</em>, a kit to use the iPod nano as a watch,
with detailing to match Apple standards —
$942,578 ($15,000 goal), 13,512 backers Scott Wilson, <em>TikTok+LunaTik Multi-Touch</em>, a kit to use the iPod nano as a watch,
with detailing to match Apple standards —
$942,578 ($15,000 goal), 13,512 backers](/content/dam/domusweb/en/design/2012/04/25/the-kickstarter-revolution/big_381146_7991_kickstarter-31.jpg.foto.rmedium.jpg)
![David Alden, <em>Recoil Winders</em>, a cable winder suitable for multi-type cables of telephones and
cameras, USB devices, earphones, electronic games
—
$141,465 ($10,000 goal),
2,915 backers
David Alden, <em>Recoil Winders</em>, a cable winder suitable for multi-type cables of telephones and
cameras, USB devices, earphones, electronic games
—
$141,465 ($10,000 goal),
2,915 backers](/content/dam/domusweb/en/design/2012/04/25/the-kickstarter-revolution/big_381146_3652_kickstarter-61.jpg.foto.rmedium.jpg)
![John Loughlin, <em>TiGR: Titanium lock as cool as your bike</em>, A small and handy titanium bike lock. It can be clamped to
both wheels and the frame —
$108,065 ($37,500 goal),
740 backers
John Loughlin, <em>TiGR: Titanium lock as cool as your bike</em>, A small and handy titanium bike lock. It can be clamped to
both wheels and the frame —
$108,065 ($37,500 goal),
740 backers](/content/dam/domusweb/en/design/2012/04/25/the-kickstarter-revolution/big_381146_7951_kickstarter-81.jpg.foto.rmedium.jpg)
![Gabriel Wartofsky, <em>Folding electric bike for commuters</em>, A compact and light folding electric bike, this project
was developed by the designer when he was a student at the Art
Center College of Design In Pasadena, California —
$25,955 ($25,000 goal),
100 backers
Gabriel Wartofsky, <em>Folding electric bike for commuters</em>, A compact and light folding electric bike, this project
was developed by the designer when he was a student at the Art
Center College of Design In Pasadena, California —
$25,955 ($25,000 goal),
100 backers](/content/dam/domusweb/en/design/2012/04/25/the-kickstarter-revolution/big_381146_8198_kickstarter-101.jpg.foto.rmedium.jpg)
![Left: Diatom Studio, <em>Sketch Chair</em>, an example of open-source software enabling an item of furniture to be
easily designed and made digitally. The Antler is the project’s
emblem-chair —
$34,475 ($18,000 goal),
584 backers.
Right: Shannon Guirl, <em>The New Century Modern Lamp</em>, a classic ceramic and wood lamp devised by the self-taught
designer who manufactures it, together with other models in
her company, Caravan Pacific — $50,649 ($8,000 goal),
222 backers
Left: Diatom Studio, <em>Sketch Chair</em>, an example of open-source software enabling an item of furniture to be
easily designed and made digitally. The Antler is the project’s
emblem-chair —
$34,475 ($18,000 goal),
584 backers.
Right: Shannon Guirl, <em>The New Century Modern Lamp</em>, a classic ceramic and wood lamp devised by the self-taught
designer who manufactures it, together with other models in
her company, Caravan Pacific — $50,649 ($8,000 goal),
222 backers](/content/dam/domusweb/en/design/2012/04/25/the-kickstarter-revolution/big_381146_5700_kickstarter-10-111.jpg.foto.rmedium.jpg)
![Dollars pledged and successful projects in 2010 and 2011. Infographic by Simone Trotti Dollars pledged and successful projects in 2010 and 2011. Infographic by Simone Trotti](/content/dam/domusweb/en/design/2012/04/25/the-kickstarter-revolution/big_381146_1649_Kickstarter-dollars%20pledged.png.foto.rmedium.png)
![Money collected by the various categories of the projects, and success rates. Infographic by Simone Trotti Money collected by the various categories of the projects, and success rates. Infographic by Simone Trotti](/content/dam/domusweb/en/design/2012/04/25/the-kickstarter-revolution/big_381146_1547_Kickstarter-donazioni3.png.foto.rmedium.png)
![Most funded projects since 2009. Infographic by Simone Trotti Most funded projects since 2009. Infographic by Simone Trotti](/content/dam/domusweb/en/design/2012/04/25/the-kickstarter-revolution/big_381146_4551_Kickstarter-toptenNUOVO1.png.foto.rmedium.png)
![How backers pledge on Kisckstarter. Infographic by Simone Trotti How backers pledge on Kisckstarter. Infographic by Simone Trotti](/content/dam/domusweb/en/design/2012/04/25/the-kickstarter-revolution/big_381146_6523_Kickstarter-pledges.png.foto.rmedium.png)
![THe Kickstarter timeline. Infographic by Simone Trotti THe Kickstarter timeline. Infographic by Simone Trotti](/content/dam/domusweb/en/design/2012/04/25/the-kickstarter-revolution/big_381146_4122_Kickstarter-timeline.png.foto.rmedium.png)