Social design was a given.

The shock I experienced in London was how social media is accepted as a given in every sphere—business, academia, daily life. What exactly lies behind this? Walking the streets and talking with many people, I sensed something.

One thing is that relationships are extremely flat. Even in business, regardless of titles like boss or subordinate or background, there's an atmosphere where anyone can contribute ideas, and good ones are actively adopted. No matter who the person is, if it's good, they praise it as excellent. Being praised boosts motivation, leading to even better ideas. I heard this approach is highly valued during client presentations and decision-making.

Second, it's a society where personal connections form easily. I was genuinely surprised myself: even with complete strangers, people would spontaneously say, "You should meet this person," and arrange meetings on the spot. I sensed they see people as individuals and connect with them as such. This open, frank atmosphere likely nurtures rich creativity.

Above all, I strongly sensed that they constantly and earnestly consider how they want to live their lives. While the British are known for loving debate, I saw them everywhere in the city, wrapping up work on time, enjoying a beer, and engaging in lively discussion. It's precisely because they are always conscious of what happiness means to them and how they view society that the concept of "social" is so deeply ingrained.
In Japan, the term "social" can sometimes be perceived as something only "highly conscious people" do. In London, however, it felt utterly ordinary. In fact, I got the impression that they live more authentically than we Japanese do. In the book Creating Hope: Social Design, I wrote about how ways of working and connecting with people are changing. The people I met in London embodied social design as their very way of life.

A major factor enabling this is London's status as a cosmopolitan city embracing a vast array of ethnicities. The necessity of coexisting with people of different languages and cultures naturally heightens awareness of the public and social spheres. Furthermore, many European countries are nations with populations in the tens of millions, meaning they inherently possess a mindset for market expansion beyond their own borders. This may be what fosters a perspective that encourages deep reflection on matters.

Rental bikes scattered throughout London