Student Programming
NeoCon offered students the opportunity to gain real-world exposure to the professional business of design through activities that bring them up close and personal with the industry’s top manufacturers and designers.
Student Programs
FORM and Function: How the Next Generation is Approaching Design
-
Kassandra Avila
Student, Cégep de Trois-Rivières, Canada -
Vania Lau
Student, Purdue University, Indiana -
Émile Tessier
Student, Cégep Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. Canada -
Nicholas Luter
Student, Ringling College of Art & Design, Florida
-
Amy Gath
Vice President, Marketing & Strategy for Formica Group North America
What does the future of design look like through the eyes of emerging talent? This session brought that perspective into focus with a moderated panel featuring winners of the Formica Corporation FORM Student Innovation Competition.
Centered on the theme “Designing a Mood-Boosting Piece of Furniture,” the discussion invited attendees to hear directly from the students behind the winning concepts. Panelists walked through their submissions, sharing the ideas, influences, and problem-solving approaches that shaped their work. From initial inspiration to final execution, each designer offered a candid look at how they translate emotion, functionality, and material into meaningful design.
Designing Future You: A Student Studio Day at NeoCon
-
Ryan Chester
Senior Project Architect, JGMA -
Lori Day
Design Principal, JGMA
No podiums, no slides, no lectures – just immersive encounters with practitioners and showrooms, plus a guided visual-making session where participants created a personal “Future Me” portfolio map artwork. Students spent the day connecting, experimenting, and turning surprise and delight at NeoCon into concrete next steps for their career. This included a morning session, lunch, and an afternoon session.
Sponsored by:
In collaboration with:
Defining Your Narrative: ASID's Student Portfolio Strategy & Review
-
Margi Kaminski, ASID, RID, NCIDQ, EDAC, CLGB
Principal, Director Health Interiors, CannonDesign -
Shundra Harris, FASID, RID, NCIDQ
CEO | Principal Designer, Shundra Harris Interiors (SHI) -
Marianne Starke, RA, ASID, IIDA Associate
Design Director | Senior Associate, Gensler
-
Khoi Vo
CEO, ASID
Your portfolio tells your story as a designer. Students Joined ASID to gain insight and receive one-on-one feedback from leading designers on portfolio development. Through conversation, designers shared what makes a portfolio stand out when seeking new talent and offer advice on how to tailor your presentation based on the position you are pursuing. Additionally, students engaged in one-on-one conversations with professionals, allowing them to receive personalized feedback on their resume and portfolio, get advice on their job or internship search, and guidance on career paths. This workshop was designed to equip students with the essential strategies and confidence needed to stand out as they launch their career.