NeoCon is where the biggest ideas and boldest innovations debut, with over 400 leading and emerging companies unveiling thousands of groundbreaking new products.
Congratulations People's Choice Winners!
The people have spoken! For the first time ever, the design community weighed in on its favorite Best of NeoCon-winning products—and the results are in. Congratulations to the five standout designs that captured the community’s attention and earned the inaugural People’s Choice Award!
NeoCon offers a compelling series of timely and inspirational programs, delivering insight from leading design and business experts through a powerful lineup of world-class presentations and accredited sessions. Virtual CEU sessions are still available on-demand through October 1.
Monday Keynote - Annie Jean Baptiste, Author, Building for Everyone
Today, innovation in design is critical to the lifeblood of creators, and a top priority for clients and consumers alike. Creating and designing inclusive spaces and experiences doesn't happen by accident. Come learn practical tips and hear relevant use cases to create for multifaceted consumers.
Tuesday Keynote - Alice Rawsthorn, Author of Design as an Attitude and Co-Founder of Design Emergency podcast
Alice Rawsthorn will share her vision of design at NeoCon 2025 as an eclectic, open-ended agent of change that can help us all to live safely, fairly, and prosperously by developing ingenious solutions to the complex social, economic, and ecological challenges we face.
Wednesday Keynote - Chris Barton, Founder & Creator, Shazam
Technology & A.I. are dramatically changing what’s possible in our world. Our challenge as we create new things is to dislodge from the comfort of what we already know. Chris inspires with jaw-dropping stories about creating Shazam and shows how innovation comes from not just an idea, but from a series of insights to overcome obstacles along the way.
This year’s CEU programming offers both virtual and on-site sessions from an impressive roster of leading industry experts. Registrants can watch each session anytime on demand through October 1. Registration also remains open through October 1.
Featured Presentation - IIDA Collective Design LIVE: How to Design a More Inclusive Future
What will the future of public space look like – and how will design address the evolving needs of the next generation, starting today? IIDA and our Futurist-in-Residence, Mark Bryan of the Future Today Strategy Group, convene an all-star panel for a research-based exploration of how the spaces of the future can create a sense of welcome and a sense of agency for all.
NeoCon Talks features thought-provoking 20-minute conversations between industry disruptors, leaders, and influencers on the 7th Floor Exhibit Hall. No additional registration is required.
Featured Presentation - Why Are We Still Talking About Return to Office?
Four years after offices shut down for the pandemic and working from home became commonplace, the debate rages on as to whether employees need to return to a literal office to innovate. For this lively discussion, we’ve assembled perspectives from an office designer, corporate end user and workforce strategist, who will establish, not just if we are returning to the old way of work but what a progressive future of work could be.
Dive deep into hands-on learning in this year’s workshops! From harnessing the power of color psychology and making informed sustainable material choices to mastering the art of visual storytelling through experience-driven design and sketching techniques—the four interactive workshops allow you to step away from the conference room and into the creative process.
Featured Presentation - Back to Office: A Tale of Two Companies
Find out how the upper floors of the Macy’s building were transformed into office space for a food ingredients company and, how an old bank building in Chicago’s Financial District became the new HQ for a software firm. Both were designed to make employees truly want to get back to the office in this post-pandemic work hybrid environment.
Featured Presentation - Integrating Fractal-Based Design for Stress Reduction
Join Dr. Richard Taylor, Anastasija Lesjak and Martijn Lesjak, founding members of the ScienceDesignLab, as they share how they have channeled the power of these intricate, stress-reducing, and repeating patterns found in nature to create fractal-based designs scientifically proven to reduce stress, enhance creativity and promote wellbeing.
Featured Presentation - Brain Works in the Workplace: Decoding Neurodiversity
Achieving neuroinclusion in the workplace requires an integrated corporate culture built upon intentional strategies covering design standards through operational policies. In this feature presentation, subject matter experts will draw upon their deep experience and research to share best practices in designing for a neuroinclusive environment and supporting a neurodivergent workforce.
New this year! In partnership with the Design Museum of Chicago and sponsored by KI, NeoCon attendees are invited to experience INSIDE DESIGN, a curated series of exclusive, design-driven events throughout the city.
Featured Presentation - Co-Creating Spaces of Inclusivity and Connectivity with ASIDx10 Collective
Relevant topics such as inclusivity and connectivity are top of mind for interior designers and end users alike when creating spaces of consequence. What do these themes mean when put into action and practice through design? How can we co-create a new definition of design that encompasses these goals?
Featured Presentation - Designing a Better Chicago: A Conversation with 2025 Grantees
Designing a Better Chicago invites residents and visitors to reflect on how design improves civic life. Join the 2025 grant winners as they share their work, the impact they are making on Chicago, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way.
NeoCon serves as the hub for the commercial design community, uniting its designers, architects, end-users, manufacturers, dealers, service providers, associations, educators, students and media each year in June. Connect with more than 50,000 fellow design professionals from around the world with a non-stop schedule of events and celebrations.
Paved States at NeoCon
Paved States, presented by Sixtysix Magazine, transformed a ground-floor showroom at THE MART into a dynamic gallery and retail space during NeoCon. This curated showcase united emerging artists, designers, and publishers, providing industry professionals and the design community with a platform for collaboration and discovery.
“THE MART remains the hub of design in Chicago as evidenced by major showroom expansions, new showrooms and a plethora of first-time exhibitors for the 56th edition of NeoCon, which is just over a month away.”
In last week’s officeinsight issue, Rob Kirkbride highlights the exciting new spaces and showroom expansions that took place at THE MART ahead of NeoCon 2025. Read the full article below to learn more!
Gaëlle Merlin of Aquafil Group shares why nature is her biggest design inspiration—and how new circular materials are bringing us closer to a regenerative future. From mycelium and seaweed to Aquafil’s latest breakthrough in nylon recycling, Merlin explores the creative possibilities of bio-based innovation and how the new ECONYL® Bespoke Collection blends beauty, performance, and sustainability.
In alignment with NeoCon, ART on THE MART is thrilled to partner with Perkins&Will to present the firm’s projection titled Currents. This work explores movement and the dynamic and multifaceted flows within the urban context of Chicago, a city renowned for both its urban planning and architecture and access to natural resources like the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. Photo credit: Angie McMonigal
NeoCon Podcast Lounge Powered by SURROUND, FL3, 397
The NeoCon Podcast Lounge had a new location on the 3rd floor! A lineup of SURROUND Podcast Network shows were recorded for a live audience throughout the three days of NeoCon.
The METROPOLIS Sustainability Lab offered attendees an immersive exhibit and dynamic hub designed to inspire and empower positive change for people and the planet with the latest sustainable design innovations and resources.
In our latest “From the Community” blog, Pallavi Dean, founder of Dubai-based architecture and interior design studio Roar, explores how inclusive design—rooted in empathy and evidence—benefits all employees. From sensory-friendly lighting to intuitive wayfinding and restorative spaces, Dean’s insights highlight the many ways designers can support a more human-centric workplace.
Haworth sponsored the lobby at THE MART for the fourth year in a row. Haworth strives to inspire NeoCon attendees with design and innovation. The lobby installation evoked a fashion runway atmosphere featuring industry iconic products from Haworth’s leading brands. The blue lighting and reflective pedestals create an ambience that piques your curiosity.
The annual IIDA Student Design Charette, hosted during NeoCon, brought together students from across the nation for a day of design, collaboration, networking, problem-solving, and fun. The day of the Charette – students were assigned random teams, presented with a design challenge, given collaborative time to create a design solution, and presented it to a panel of esteemed jurors.
Material choices matter. Every successful commercial project begins with selecting materials and components that meet your demands for performance, sustainability, and budget—without sacrificing your design goals. Material Intelligence curated an experiential, educational installation where attendees were able to see and handle a wide range of materials, finishes, and components currently used in top commercial projects.
In our latest “From the Community” blog, visionary architect and CEO of Adjaye Associates Pascale Sablan explores why amplifying underrepresented designers is essential—not as a gesture, but as a necessity for creating more resilient, sustainable, and human-centered spaces. Sablan calls for celebrating greatness and recognizing the transformative impact of diverse voices in architecture.
Color and design can change communities; creating equity, joy and belonging. Attendees experienced Project Color Corps’ mission, history and vision at NeoCon 2025. Designed by Gensler, Project Color Corps will host a color pop up in Suite 101 on THE MART’s First Floor.
Attendees enjoyed NeoCon's after party at the stunning new venue of Secrist Beach, graciously hosted by the Design Museum of Chicago. They raised a toast to another triumphant year of visionary international design and extended a warm welcome to the recipients of the Designing a Better Chicago Award, an impactful program by NeoCon and the Driehaus Foundation.
INTERIOR DESIGN hosted an unforgettable evening at the 12th annual HiP Awards, where Editor-in-Chief Cindy Allen recognized excellence and innovation in commercial design at NeoCon 2025.
The Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacture Association continues to be the industry source for standards and programs supporting Manufacturers, Suppliers, Specifiers and Buyers. Visit the BIFMA Lounge and meet the team to learn more.
Attendees enjoyed the outdoors along the Chicago River and connected with colleagues over lunch or drinks from Marshall’s Landing at THE MART's River Park, presented by Haworth.
From top-tier manufacturers fused with innovative designs, My Resource Library curated an inspiring space just for NeoCon attendees where they could take a break from the hustle and bustle, recharge and explore the latest MRL has to offer.
BIFMA’s annual breakfast brings together BIFMA members and all conference attendees for the last day NeoCon, offering social and networking opportunities accompanied by an industry-forward presentation.
