The Neo (new) Con (convention)

Each year when June rolls around, many of us look forward to sunny days and weekends at the beach. Talk to any interior designer and they will tell you they look forward to heading to Chicago for NeoCon. NeoCon is the commercial design industry’s most recognized annual event. Manufacturers of furniture, textiles, lighting, flooring, building products and technology gather to celebrate the coming year’s designs before they gain momentum and make big waves in the industry.

This year Erin Polansky and I represented PAYETTE at NeoCon. Around 50,000 designers flew in from around the world to catch a glimpse at the incoming design developments. Did you know Neocon takes up over 1 million square feet of design space and 4 floors of trade shows? Needless to say, we wore our sensible walking shoes when we toured the exhibition space. There was so much to see!

The first showroom we visited was Kimball Office, which showcased some of my favorite trends of 2017. We walked through a series of “vignettes” that aimed to help offices show off their personality. The palette included pieces in navy and heather gray mixed with accents of blush pink, citrus yellow and burgundy red. The furniture was comprised of blockish pieces with integrated power, tablet arms and ottomans, creating a lounge vibe that is still functional as a workspace. The showroom wholly blended structure and materials, as well as technology and craft.

Later, we made our way to the Knoll showroom, which, visually, was comparable to a life size jewel box. Knoll was celebrating the birthday of Florence Knoll, as well as her legacy in design and craft. The interior finishes were dark, muted and moody. Glossy metal topped occasional tables. Chairs in every metal finish were strategically placed under downlights to make them shine like little gems. Lounge pieces were upholstered in pastel pinks and metallic textiles, making them pop against the interior finishes. Furniture encouraged group gathering spaces through freestanding moveable elements.

OFS introduced colossal amount of new furniture. To name a few, we caught a glimpse of the Elani, Wyre, Hinchada, Hug, Intermix, Lona – the list goes on forever! One of my personal favorites included the Elani furniture family by Carolina. The wood legs, high back and angled arms created a comfortable, modern piece that I imagine could by applied in a wide variety of projects, from office lounges to healthcare projects. The Wyre table (a Best of Neocon Winner) complimented the same versatility by offering the “resi-mmercial” vibe for a commercial table I could imagine (and die for) in my own apartment.

Ritz Associates toured us through the Izzy show room, which drew us in with its playfulness and buzzing energy. Izzy was inspired by spaces where people connect and learn. They created an approachable and unique space that pairs modern furniture pieces and a lively pallet. The colors were bright and complimented by bold graphics. The bold color and fresh furniture in the showroom really came alive to create a spirited and uniquely “Izzy” space.

The Steelcase + Coalesse showroom celebrated generating new ideas out of creative collaboration. The furniture line introduced a rich expansion of bespoke products. The Umami lounge furniture system was a perfect mix of soft, curved upholstery sitting upon a wire metal frame, combining both softness and rigidity. And how could I not mention the Casper Cloaking Technology by DesignTex (Another Best of Neocon winner)! This was hand down the most jaw dropping invention we laid eyes upon at Neocon. It is a transparent architectural film that is integrated within glass walls, that blocks onlookers from being able to view anything being displayed from a LED or LCD monitor.

After several days and roughly 80,000 steps, Erin and I packed up our sensible shoes and left the glitzy showrooms of Neocon to head home to Boston. While the trip was exhausting, on the plane home, my mind was full of ideas. Since Neocon I’ve seen my experiences reflect in my work through finish pallets I’ve put together, furniture choices and design decisions. Neocon was a truly a great opportunity, and I’m grateful our industry is able to experience such vast possibilities in one place. Every now and then I still catch myself dreaming of what innovations and designs will be coming out next year at Neocon 2018.