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Experiences and Activations

Interactive installations and immersive experiences will come to life throughout both the interior and exterior of THE MART during NeoCon 2025, where attendees will have the chance to engage with cutting-edge designs, participate in hands-on demonstrations, and explore innovative technologies. Check back for more details to come.

ART on THE MART Projection by Perkins&Will

description South Facade, THE MART

Runs nightly starting June 5, 9pm to 9:30pm

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.

Design Creates Joy

description Floor 1, Suite 101

Color and design can change communities; creating equity, joy and belonging. Experience 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.

02 Design Space TF 10236 Copy

DesignScene by SANDOW

description Floor 11, Suite 1120

DesignScene by SANDOW is back for another NeoCon! INTERIOR DESIGN will be celebrating by bringing their favorite brands and emerging designers together to create immersive, educational, and meaningful experiences. Pop into the space for a sneak peek of INTERIOR DESIGN's Show Daily being produced LIVE and get a glimpse of any number of industry roundtables with top industry leaders and specifying designers attending their first NeoCon discussing the future of design.

Take part in the best scene that is all about community and celebrating what we do best!

Metropolis Sustainability Lab

Metropolis Sustainability Lab

description Floor 11, Suite 1120

The METROPOLIS Sustainability Lab at NeoCon is an immersive exhibit and dynamic hub designed to inspire and empower attendees to drive positive change for people and the planet. This vibrant space showcases the latest innovations, pioneering initiatives, and essential resources to support and elevate sustainable design practices.

02 Podcast Studio JH 9312

NeoCon Podcast Studio Powered by SURROUND

description Floor 3, Suite 303

The NeoCon Podcast Studio and Lounge will have a new location on the 3rd floor! A lineup of SURROUND Podcast Network shows will be recorded for a live audience throughout the three days of NeoCon. Meet the hosts, enjoy exciting giveaways, and take part in exclusive hospitality.

02 South Drive JH 9661 Resized

River Park

description THE MART

NeoCon 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.

Student Charrette

IIDA Student Design Charette

description Floor 11, Suite 1134

The annual IIDA Student Design Charette, hosted during NeoCon, brings together students from across the nation for a day of design, collaboration, networking, problem-solving, and fun. The day of the Charette – students are assigned random teams, presented with a design challenge, given collaborative time to create a design solution, and present it to a panel of esteemed jurors.

Image courtesy of IIDA

Paved States at NeoCon

description Floor 1, Suite 121

Paved States, presented by Sixtysix Magazine, transforms a ground-floor showroom at THE MART into a dynamic gallery and retail space during NeoCon. This curated showcase unites emerging artists, designers, and publishers, providing industry professionals and the design community with a platform for collaboration and discovery.

Drawing from Chicago’s Brutalist architecture and material innovations, Paved States highlights makers who work with and reinterpret stone, brick, glass, and iron—creating a compelling dialoge between soft and hard, permanent and ephemeral, industrial and artisanal.