Over 50,000 design industry professionals recently gathered at THE MART in Chicago for the 54th edition of NeoCon, the largest platform for commercial interior design.
The 2023 edition also coincided with the unveiling of THE MART’s latest building renovations which were designed by Gensler Chicago.
This year’s show featured a roster of manufacturers, dealers, architects, designers, end-users, design organizations, and media, innovative products and opportunities to learn about the trends shaping the future of design.
The show also featured various keynote presentations by speakers including futurist and founder and CEO of the Future Today Institute, Amy Webb; co-founder of MASS Design Group, Michael Murphy; and The Hip Hop Architect, Michael Ford as well as Chicago hip hop legend and MIT professor, Lupe Fiasco.
Across the show floors, exhibitors showcased various innovations that were in line with important trends shaping today’s built environment. These included incorporating wellness and balance in the workplace to leveraging solution-driven technology and prioritizing design by manufacturers with socially and environmentally responsible core values.
Australian brand Schiavello opened its new showroom at THE MART with several new workplace collections that prioritized ESG and the environment. Shaw Contract launched a collaboration with Mike Ford—with a portion of its proceeds supporting Hip Hop Architecture Camp in its mission to advance equity in the profession and empower underrepresented youth.
At the show, HMTX Industries also unveiled Mycelium Collection, the market’s first introduction to a new, non-vinyl, circular multilayer flooring system which was bred from innovations in sustainability, the circular economy, and biophilic design.
Thought leaders from the industry’s leading associations including IIDA, ASID, BIFMA and IFMA also addressed topics including equity, empathy, social justice, sustainability, and workplace occupancy in an evolving landscape as part of the featured presentations.
“During the pandemic, we were all confined for several months. Many people feared returning to public places. Companies were compelled to rethink their spaces while acknowledging the start of a new era, which has significantly impacted the design industry,” says Christelle Locat-Rainville, Formica Canada Marketing Director.
Along with seminars led by 45 different experts, NeoCon and Work Design Magazine’s NeoCon Talks also brought together thought-leaders for 20-minute conversations that challenged conventional thinking and sparked innovation; something that was new this year.
