London Through Children’s Eyes

Children living in London between the ages of 7 and 16 were invited to create pictogram sketches in response to the question, “What makes London, London to you?”

Nippon Design Center then refined a series of selected drawings and developed them into functional pictograms. The result is “My London Pictogram”.

"My London Pictograms" competition was organized with the help of The Japan Society, who drew on their extensive network of schools and teachers to promote it, bringing the competition to a wide audience of young creators.

“Pictograms: Iconic Japanese Designs” exhibition

We received far more sketches from children than originally anticipated. Each and every sketch was bursting with personality. 

The motifs varied widely: palaces and temples associated with the British royal family, everyday scenes of transport and playground equipment capturing ordinary moments of daily life. Each sketch was created with careful attention to details, revealing the sharpness of the children’s powers of observation. Through every drawing, it was clear how much they had absorbed from the traditions and natural surroundings that infuse London.

All of the submitted works were so compelling that selecting the final 30 pieces for display proved challenging right up to the end.

After the selection process, designers from the Nippon Design Center carefully worked on each individual sketch, transforming them into pictograms while preserving the unique charm of the original drawings. Retaining the children’s perspectives and ideas alive while celebrating London’s distinctive sense of tradition and humor, the designers refined each design down to the smallest detail.

The completed pictograms were displayed alongside the original sketches at Japan House London.

On the opening day, the children who made the sketches also joined the gallery tour, bringing a lively energy to the space. Watching many visitors pause and take photographs of “My London Pictograms”, we appreciated how impactful this project was to the community. The exhibition continued to attract significant attention, with total attendance reaching approximately 150,000 visitors, and the show closed successfully in November 2025.






We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the participating school staff, parents and guardians, and of course all the children who created the sketches for this project.

Born through the pure eyes of children, “My London Pictograms” invites you to reflect on London’s history and future. Please feel free to download and enjoy them—perhaps with a cup of tea in hand.

My London Pictograms