Reflecting on 2024 in the built environment - trends that caught our eye

What stood out for you in 2024?

Was it your first time incorporating AI into your daily workflow? Or did you explore the buzz around the new social platform, Bluesky?

For many in the built environment sector, 2024 was a year of transformation, marked by new challenges, opportunities, and innovations. The election of a new UK government brought expectations for progress on critical issues, including tackling the housing crisis and advancing sustainability efforts.

At Concept Culture, we interviewed experts in the built environment to explore their hopes and expectations for the new UK government. This year, we also delved into trends such as AI-driven approaches to community engagement and strategies to foster greater inclusion and diversity within the sector.

Looking ahead to 2025, we remain committed to exploring key topics and sharing valuable insights across our platforms. We are also thrilled to announce that we will be adding a new platform next year. Scroll down to get a sneak peek of what is coming next, as we reflect on the milestones and moments that defined 2024.

AI takes centre stage

AI has taken the technology world by storm and is now making its mark in the built environment sector. In November, we partnered with the LDN Collective to host the event, “Tech and AI in Community Engagement,” where we explored the role of technology and AI in community engagement. This led to insightful and thought-provoking discussions, where everyone engaged and raised both their excitement and concerns about AI.

At the event, tech and community engagement experts, including our Creative Director Tanisha Raffiuddin, shared insights on how AI can enhance urban planning, create inclusive engagement, and increase participation. The discussions highlighted that AI should act as a complement to human interaction, not a replacement. As AI's role in city planning expands, trust, transparency, and empathy remain fundamental to create meaningful community engagement. Read more about AI and the key takeaways from the event here.

The rise and fall of social media platforms

Social media is always evolving, with trends emerging and disappearing in the blink of an eye. That said, a few key changes caught our attention this year, and we are excited to see how they evolve in the year ahead.

A final goodbye to Twitter?

In 2023, the popular platform Twitter was rebranded as X following Elon Musk's takeover, marking the end of Twitter's era. The final shift came in May 2024 when its domain changed from twitter.com to x.com. Although X retains many of Twitter’s original features, its reputation for being the go-to platform for thought leadership and industry news seems to decline.

A report from the Financial Times highlighted a significant drop in X's user base, with a nearly 20% decrease in daily active users in the U.S. and a 33% decline in the UK. Several factors may be contributing to the change. However, politics appears to be a significant factor in this case. Elon Musk has openly expressed his support for future U.S. president Donald Trump. After Trump’s re-election, an estimated 115,000 accounts on X were deactivated in the U.S. on the day following the election. As X faces challenges in maintaining user engagement, it has opened the door for emerging competitors, with Bluesky being one to watch.

The rise of Bluesky

Bluesky, a decentralised social media platform launched in 2024, has captured the attention of early adopters looking for an alternative to traditional social media giants. BlueSky is created by Jack Dorsey, who co-founded Twitter. Bluesky operates independently, ensuring that big corporations do not influence its decisions. Users can also customise the algorithm that curates the content they see through personalised feeds.

The platform has introduced several features, such as the ability to disconnect your post from a "quote post" by another user and the option to hide replies to posts. Bluesky presents a new, authentic approach to online networking with its open protocol and focus on user control. We are excited to see how the platform evolves in 2025.

Uptake of threads

Another notable trend in 2024 was the rapid growth of Instagram's Threads app. Launched in 2023, Threads reached 275 million active users by November of this year, a significant jump in just four months.

At first glance, Threads resembles X, but a key difference is that posts on Threads are visible only to followers, while X posts are accessible to anyone following or viewing them in their feed. This will be another trend to follow in 2025.

Short-form video is here to stay

It is no secret that video content captures attention, making it a popular and powerful tool to engage with audiences and make an impact. LinkedIn, traditionally known for professional networking, recently joined the trend by launching a new video feature.

This feature allows users to share professional insights, career milestones, and thought leadership in a more engaging, interactive way. In the built environment, this provides a new way to showcase projects, share expertise, and visually connect with the industry on LinkedIn, much like on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

At Concept Culture, we have produced more short-form video content than ever this year, filming events, conducting interviews, and creating highlight reels as well as top-secret thank-you videos for our client Marsha Ramroop. Earlier this year, we also published a blog on how to use visual content to create impactful place stories, where you can find tips on creating eye-catching videos that engage your audience.

Podcast recording with Jay Morton
Source - Tanisha Raffiuddin

Podcasts are on the rise

Are you listening to podcasts? If so, you are not the only one. Podcasts have become a dominant media platform in the UK, with audience reach hitting new records, as revealed in The UK Podcast Consumer 2024 report by Edison Research. Notably, 42% of UK adults are monthly listeners, while 30% tune in weekly. The report highlights that younger adults, especially those aged 18-34, are particularly loyal, with 41% listening weekly. Podcasts are also gaining popularity among older demographics, with 28% of those aged 55+ listening monthly.

At Concept Culture, we are also big fans of podcasts – so much so that we have decided to create our own! In Q4, we have been busy working on our own podcast recording episodes with experts in the built environment, and diving into topics related to placemaking, place branding, and storytelling. We cannot wait to share these episodes with you, so stay tuned for the launch of our podcast next year.

“SwiftKirchen”
Source - Tanisha Raffiuddin

Places and pop culture blend to attract audiences

This year has also showcased great examples of placemaking intertwined with pop culture. Cities have redefined their identities to celebrate pop icons and welcome fans, while classic musicals have brought character and charm to spaces, creating community connections through shared cultural experiences.

Taylor Swift’s highest-grossing and record-breaking Eras Tour is one example of this. Various cities embraced her concerts by transforming their cities into “Swift Cities”. When she visited Wembley Park, they renamed their Spanish Steps to “Swiftie Steps” and Gelsenkirchen in Germany was rebranded as "Swiftkirchen". In our blog, we delve into how Gelsenkirchen used her concerts as an opportunity to reinvent its brand and use placemaking strategies to benefit both the tourists and the local community.

Other placemaking initiatives include a vibrant mural celebrating Paddington Bear on the Southbank, creating a playful and inviting space for visitors of all ages. Additionally, Greenwich embraced a creative rebrand as "GreenWitch" to mark the release of the musical Wicked.

These examples show how pop culture can go beyond entertainment, acting as a catalyst for placemaking by creating community engagement and driving tourism.

Community Engagement - the heart of inclusive and sustainable placemaking

Community engagement has been a central theme this year. In June, we partnered with the LDN Collective and Women in Architecture to host the LFA event, “Reimagining a more equitable London: Postcards from the Future”, where discussions focused on intersectionality and systemic inequalities in the sector. A key takeaway was the importance of collaboration across sectors, borders, and communities in the fight against structural and systemic inequality.

Later in the summer, we supported the launch of the LDN Collective’s new Engagement, Co-Design, and Social Value offer, which aimed to bring new perspectives to community engagement in the built environment sector, empowering communities to shape their own future. During the event, we filmed and interviewed industry professionals about the importance of community engagement. The consensus was clear - it is crucial. Engaging with the community ensures that developments are aligned with the needs, values, and aspirations of the people who will use them.

Wrapping up 2024

It has been an eventful year in the built environment industry and for Concept Culture. By the end of the year, we will have published 20 blogs, and we are excited to bring you even more content in 2025. We are also thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of our podcast, featuring incredible guests from various disciplines across the Built Environment If you are interested in the power of placemaking and place branding, you do not want to miss it.

It has also been a year, where we have worked with incredible clients, including our first international client. We travelled to India to meet with CEAT and facilitate stakeholder engagement workshops in collaboration with our partners, beyond design, and Rumi Bose. We also supported the author and founder of Unheard Voice, Marsha Ramroop, in promoting her new book Building Inclusion across her social media platforms. We are eager to see how the book sparks conversations and drives change around inclusion, diversity, and equity within our sector.

We look back at a busy year and look forward to new adventures in 2025!

If you are interested in learning more about our work and how we can elevate your brand, get in touch today for a free consultation.