NeoCon | 2021

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Thank you for being a part of NeoCon 2021! The floors of theMART were abuzz with innovative design, new products, important connections, and the sharing of ideas that are only possible when we gather together face-to-face. We are back at it in 7 months. Stay tuned for details on NeoCon 2022, June 13-15.

As we collectively face challenges like never before, NeoCon 2022 will bring us back together to share ideas, products, knowledge and inspiration.
About NeoCon

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Monday Keynote: Jeanne Gang

Jeanne Gang, FAIA, Founding Principal and Partner of Studio Gang, explored a diverse set of Studio Gang’s projects – ranging from large-scale residential work, like the Mission Rock development in San Francisco, to in-depth community engagement and planning efforts in Chicago, to demonstrate how we can rethink design strategies to make cities more inclusive and equitable.

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KFI Studios

Click on the link below to see a list of our 2021 exhibitors.

ASID Student Panel and Tour

ASID Design Pathways Student Program + Tour

Students had the opportunity to tour the show floors during the ASID Design Pathways Student Tour where they were given guidance on how to make the most of their time at important professional events.

ERG International

Click on the link below to see a list of our 2021 exhibitors.

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River Park

Attendees and exhibitors enjoyed the autumn outdoors along the Chicago River and connected with colleagues over lunch or drinks from Marshall’s Landing at theMART’s new river park, presented by Haworth.

Extremis

Click on the link below to see a list of our 2021 exhibitors.

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Tuesday Keynote: Frans Johansson

Frans Johansson, Author and CEO of The Medici Group, shared why the most powerful intersection in the world today is between innovation & strategy and diversity & inclusion - and what this means for you.

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Steelcase

Click on the link below to see a list of our 2021 exhibitors.

IIDA Design Your World

IIDA Design Your World Video Premiere

IIDA hosted the Design Your World Video Premiere that allowed attendees to network with peers, learn how to get involved with this groundbreaking educational program, and attend a reception to follow the screening outside on theMart River Park Plaza.

SILEN OU

Click on the link below to see a list of our 2021 exhibitors.

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Metropolis Sustainability Lab

The Metropolis’s Sustainability Lab at NeoCon, helped designers take the next step towards making a positive impact on people and planet. At the Lab, attendees learned about the most innovative products and dove into new initiatives and resources to help advance their work—including a new toolkit to help designers address climate change.

Designtex

Click on the link below to see a list of our 2021 exhibitors.

NeoCon 2021 Highlights

NeoCon Exhibitor, Nook had a special activation on the seventh floor of theMART during NeoCon.

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Wednesday Keynote: Jackie Koo

Jackie Koo, founder of her eponymous firm KOO, Architect and Interior Designer of the recently completed Sable hotel on Navy Pier and Interior Designer of the hotel at the historic Old Cook County Hospital, discussed how the best places and spaces are created by both architectural and interior design forces working in the same direction.

Stylex

Click on the link below to see a list of our 2021 exhibitors.

Is Design with Purpose

i+s Design with Purpose

i+s featured award-winning student work and gave back by, donating a dollar to the Design Your World campaign for every badge scanned.

JSI

Click on the link below to see a list of our 2021 exhibitors.

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Livestreams

NeoCon keynote presentations, special programming, the Best of NeoCon Award-Winners' event and Interior Design's ID Live were livestreamed on the Grand Stair at theMART, as well as on the new NeoCon Hub.

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Ethnicraft

Click on the link below to see a list of our 2021 exhibitors.

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NeoCon 2021 Highlights

NeoCon Exhibitor, Framery had a special activation on the first floor of theMART during NeoCon.

HiP Awards + Party

Interior Design's HiP Awards celebrated the most innovative commercial products and design thinkers in the A+D community. Winners and honorees were announced live at an exclusive event held at theMART.

Mantra Inspired Furniture

Click on the link below to see a list of our 2021 exhibitors.

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Best of NeoCon Awards 2021

NeoCon was thrilled to unveil the winners of the 30th edition of the highly coveted Best of NeoCon Awards. Each year, top manufacturers across the commercial design industry compete for recognition for their latest product introductions. Best of NeoCon Awards are judged by a highly qualified jury of leading architects, designers, specifiers, enterprise clients, and facility managers. Click on the link below to see the 2021 winners, entrants and jury members.

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Best of NeoCon Award-Winners' Event

This year's Best of NeoCon Award-Winners' event was hosted at theMART on monday morning of NeoCon. Dynamic industry veteran and Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of officeinsight, Bob Beck, served as the Master of Ceremonies announcing category winners, Innovation and Sustainability honors, as well as the Best of Competition. Click on the link below to see all the 2021 winners.

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https://neocon.com/programming/best-of-neocon

DARRAN Furniture Honey! A Gold winner for Furniture Systems & Enhancements, Honey took home the award for best overall product in the close to 300 product submissions this year. For Honey, DARRAN worked with designers Mark Müller and Christopher Wright to create a soft, rounded, pace-efficient structure that can meander through a room with endless possibilities for configuring the workspace. Congratulations DARRAN!

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Best of NeoCon Award

This year’s Best of NeoCon winners received a striking sculptural object designed by award-winning graphic design firm Maiarelli Studio and manufactured by 3form using its Chroma material. Click on the link below to watch the design process for this award.

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Best of NeoCon Winner, Snowsound

Mike Dardashti, President, North America of Snowsound, took home Silver and Innovation awards for Acoustic Solutions with their product, Dunes. Click on the link below to see all the 2021 winners.

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Best of NeoCon Winner, Scandinavian Spaces

Scandinavian Spaces won Gold, Sustainability and Innovation Best of NeoCon Awards in the Furniture: Occasional Table category for their product, Tinnef. Click on the link below to see all the 2021 winners.

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2021 Design Impact Grant

Who are the innovators and visionaries helping to design a better Chicago? We are thrilled to announce the 2021 winners of the Design Impact Grant Program: SGA Youth Services and The Weaving Mill!

Guest Blog

"If employers are truly serious about retaining their workforce and motivating their team members to return to the office, it's vital they begin to reimage and reinvent. It's clear that flexibility and trust will be at the core of what is next and rebuilding the future to be better than the past we were forced to leave behind will inevitably lead to an evolution that will be unlike anything we had before." - Read the full blog post by Greg Lewis and Kelly Colon of Cresa, the world's largest occupier only commercial real estate company.

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Metropolis: Specify

Dedicated to NeoCon, Metropolis’ Specify will help architects and designers identify the best new products across sectors that make a positive impact on health, equity, and the environment. Click below for the 2021 digital issue.

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i+s INSPIRE

In-person visits to showrooms and exhibits at tradeshows are now complemented by virtual experiences. With that, i+s has partnered with several very talented Boston Architectural College students to bring together the best of both worlds. With a digitized version of hand-sketch artistry, what is old is new and fresh again. View showrooms like never before and dive deeper into the design and inspiration behind some of the trendiest spots found at NeoCon.