Tech & Experience Design

“Let’s meet at the usual spot!” or “I’ll be at the right side of the central gate around 6 p.m.” These are common phrases heard when deciding on a meeting place. Nowadays when everyone has a smartphone, communication about each other’s locations can be easily done through email or messaging apps like LINE in Japan, WhatsApp internationally, or WeChat in China. It’s convenient to inform someone if you’re running late, making it easy to meet up without the need for a fixed meeting spot. Nevertheless, many still choose a meeting place beforehand and kill time there, browsing social media or watching videos while waiting for the person they’re meeting.

So, why do meeting spots become meeting spots? Whether it’s meeting friends at a pub or gathering at a work site, how do we decide on the specific location? What criteria or reasons do you consider when choosing? Let’s explore the reasons why meeting places are chosen from an experiential design perspective.

Four elements found in meeting spots around the world

To understand why a place becomes a meeting spot, why people gather there, and why they choose to wait there, I researched famous meeting places in Japan and around the world.

Did you notice any commonalities among these spots in the photos?

Now, let’s focus on one of Japan’s famous spots to meet up, the Hachiko Square in Shibuya, and consider the factors that make it a meeting spot. To do this, I previously visited Hachiko Square to observe people’s behavior, such as how they wait.

Let’s consider a hypothetical scenario together; For those who have been to Hachiko Square, where would you choose to meet around this area? For those who haven’t been, take a look at the photos below and think about where you would meet.

Observing Hachiko Square, I noticed that although it appears crowded, there are limited areas where people actually meet.

• Near the ticket gate
• Around the Hachiko statue
• Under benches or trees
• In front of building walls

People tend to gather in these four specific areas for meet-ups at Hachiko Square. But why these particular spots? Besides these listed, tourists are visiting Shibuya Crossing, callers seeking to attract customers, people just observing other people on the street, and individuals playing location-based smartphone games which require being present at a specific place.

Upon closer examination of tourist photos and Google Street View of meeting places worldwide, it became clear that in places other than Hachiko Square, at least one of the following four elements is present:

1. Landmarks or easily recognizable spots (statues, clock towers, ticket gates, etc.)
2. Comfortable and relaxing spots (benches, shade of trees, presence of water or nature, walls, etc.)
3. Movement or activity (clocks, public transportation, signage, etc.)
4. Presence of others (not being alone)

Now, let’s extract the experiential value of meeting places from these four elements.

Factors of meeting spots from an experiential value perspective

1. Presence of Landmarks

It’s crucial for everyone to easily recognize the meeting location. Even in unfamiliar places, the spot needs to be easily accessible, understandable, and noticeable. These days, with GPS-equipped smartphones, however, the accuracy drops significantly indoors. In foreign locations, it’s more convenient to use location names that taxi drivers or locals can guide you to when mentioned. Examples include “left side of the central ticket gate,” “in front of the clock tower,” or “at the building entrance hall.”

In terms of experiential value here, it translates to being clear, memorable, and easy to communicate.

2. Comfortable and Relaxing Spaces

Ideally, you’d want to wait in a pleasant environment. Even in urban meeting spots, areas with more nature like fountains or greenery might be chosen for that experiential value. 

Additionally, spots with benches, chairs, or grass where you can comfortably sit and wait are preferred. People who enjoy cafes with cozy atmospheres, background music, and comfortable furniture might choose such places for meetings. The experiential value here is being comfortable and relaxing.

3. Presence of Movement

Smartphones allow for endless entertainment like checking social media or watching videos. However, in the past when smartphones weren’t prevalent, people used to pass the time by gazing at the scenery or reading books while waiting for the person they were meeting. This habit seems to linger, as locations with some form of movement are favored. Whether it’s a water fountain, clocks with music, large signage displays with ads or videos, or watching the hustle and bustle of trains or planes, people seek activity to keep them engaged. The experiential value here is entertaining.

4. Presence of Others

Imagine waiting alone at the meeting spot. Doesn’t it feel lonely and unsettling? Having others around can provide a sense of security and comfort. There is a police station in Hachiko Square, and in buildings, there are security guards or surveillance cameras that offer a sense of being watched over. Similarly, meeting inside a store where staff are present can also provide a sense of reassurance. The experiential value here is feeling secure.

Based on this analysis, I categorized the experiential value of meeting places into five aspects (see below chart).　

While not all five experiential values are necessary for a meeting place to be successful, the importance of each value likely influences the choice of a meeting spot. For instance, in work-related meetings, a location that is clear, memorable, and easy to communicate to ensure everyone gathers without confusion is preferred. 

The experience may vary based on waiting time or season. Nonetheless, meeting places renowned worldwide tend to fulfill many of these experiential values, creating a welcoming and engaging environment.

“Hanadokei” in Ginza: Designed for meeting

The insights shared in this column stem from my experience designing the “Hanadokei” space at Marronnier Gate Ginza2. During the renovation of Marronnier Gate Ginza2, we set a mission to make this space a meeting spot in Ginza. At that time, Marronnier Gate (formerly known as Printemps Ginza) was not a designated meeting spot in Ginza or Yurakucho. While it’s natural for a commercial facility to attract people, we also believe that the element of naturally drawing people together is crucial. Through research on places where people naturally gather, we discovered that meeting spots were one of those locations.

A meeting spot serves as the starting point for shopping or sightseeing. The goal of experiential design was to make it a place that everyone remembers. This goal was achieved, as media reports showcased shopping experiences starting from Hanadokei, and people started meeting up in front of Hanadokei as aimed.

With an information center nearby, we also ensured to provide a sense of security in the experience. Although there were plans to install a circular bench at Hanadokei, it couldn’t be done due to various reasons, and that remains a regret. We wanted to incorporate the value of relaxation.

Conclusion

I have analyzed the concept of meeting spots that are often chosen based on familiarity with the place, from the viewpoint of (spatial) experiential value design. For your next meeting spot decision, why not choose a location based on which of the five experiential values you prioritize? 

If you were assigned a specific spot by the person you’re meeting, consider analyzing why that particular place was chosen. If you discover experiential values beyond the five I mentioned, please share them with me.