Another NeoCon is in the books! Our team is excited to share our NeoCon 2024 experience with you. It was another fun year showcasing the latest design trends and innovations and of course, catching up with our industry partners. Here are a few themes and impactful design trends we noticed during our time at THE MART in Chicago:
Sustainability
Walking around the showrooms, we noticed a major push towards sustainability-driven solutions from various manufacturing and design brands. One notable brand is Steelcase, showcasing its carbon-neutral lineup and its designs for circularity. Not only is Steelcase designing products built to last, but also giving them new life through reuse, repair, or recycling. In addition, Steelcase announced its dedication to reducing carbon emissions by more than 90% with its published net-zero transition plan, The Power of Possibility. On the textile side of the industry, Momentum also debuted their new product, Circon, the first bio-based carbon-neutral wallcovering. Circon, named for its circular economy, is fully recyclable and will have a sustainable impact beyond its project life.
Organic Patterns and Shapes
Our team was drawn to the playful organic patterns and colors, most notably from Designtex and Momentum. Designtex unveiled their collection, Joy, a new collection of woven and coated high-performance textiles that bring you joy with rhythmic shapes, vibrant colors, and textual details. Momentum attracted attendees with their new textile collection in collaboration with Yinka Ilori. The bold and joyful work draws inspiration from his British-Nigerian heritage. This collection transformed the space with vibrant colors and dynamic patterns.
Organic shapes did not stop there as we noticed this design theme influenced various furniture pieces. These modular collections had very distinct features with organic shaping and curved edges. The true beauty of these pieces was how well they worked together within their collection. Each piece is easily movable and customizable to form various configurations to suit your aesthetic. Here are four of our favorite examples: Ensemble Lounge by Coalesse, Arcular by Davis Furniture, Del Amo by Martin Brattrud, and Bolete Lounge by Andreu World.
Refined Tailoring/Unique Construction
Great attention was given to the fine detailing and tailoring of many products throughout NeoCon, making these pieces feel luxurious and refined. The Aleta Executive chair by Viccarbe is a step up from your typical office chair with its unique design and finishes, giving you a look of sophistication. The curled backrest on the Still Life chair from Scandinavian Spaces gives it a subtle taste of elegance and comfort. With its crisp edging and continuous line around each form, the Frank Lloyd Wright Galesburg Collection by Steelcase adds a touch of luxury to any given space. The Dau seating collection from Stylex is constructed with curved edges, giving the upholstery a unique tailored feel.
Cord Detailing
Orangebox introduced their new Campers & Den line, a privacy pod structure inspired by campervans and campsites. This interior structure is customizable to adapt to the layers of privacy needed for your workspace. What stood out to us on the pod configuration was the cord awning. The nylon cord wrapped around the structure creates a simple, yet unique open barrier. Innovative and unique, this architectural statement gave a small essence of privacy but still conveyed an inviting feeling for an open work environment.
