Highlights from NeoCon 2025

Each June, the design world descends on Chicago for NeoCon, one of North America’s most influential commercial interiors trade shows. This year, more than 40,000 attendees explored the latest in furniture, finishes, and material innovation.

Over 400 exhibitors were spread across the Mart’s million-square-foot space. I spent the day exploring it all with longtime friend and Astro Studios co-founder Kyle Swen.

Throughout the show, NeoCon’s visual identity was on point. From motion graphics synced with elevators inside the Mart to bold pink powder-coated wayfinding at Fulton Market, the branding created cohesion and added playful polish to the experience.

Compressed, molded, folded—felt was everywhere. Used for acoustics, lighting, wall cladding, and furniture, this versatile material flexed both function and form. Some brands showed ultra-dense felt that mimicked plywood; others used it like origami, folding and layering it into sculptural, sound-softening statements.

I collected a camera roll full of seating innovations—material mashups, clever knock-down designs, and multi-functional stools for bar-height sit-stand setups. Every piece felt smart, flexible, and intentional.

A clever standout: a modular bar/stool concept that doubled as railing, seating, or cocktail perch. With a small footprint and big utility, it’s perfect for galleries, museums, and other compact public spaces.

Shoutout to our friends Mike & Maaike—their “Horizon” chair for Davis Furniture, crafted in ultra-lightweight, aluminum with clean, classic lines, struck a perfect balance of timelessness and modern utility.

Pods were all over the show floor. Nearly every major brand had their own take on these plug-and-play micro-environments. Designed for private conversations, focus work, or small group meetings, these units blur the line between furniture and architecture.

The Framery One Lounge, awarded Best of NeoCon, stood out with its sleek design and acoustically sealed, lounge-style comfort. Haworth’s Hushoffice pods drew attention for their customizable configurations, allowing for different interior tables, seating options, and panel colors to match any existing aesthetic.

Of all the exhibitors in the Mart, Haworth told one of the most thoughtful and cohesive design stories at the show. They showcased process and material innovation, from circular design and zero-waste knitted textiles to closed-loop plastic manufacturing. The Fern office chair, a collaboration between Haworth and ITO Design, won two Best of NeoCon awards and is the first in the industry to feature a closed-loop manufacturing process.

NeoCon isn’t just inside the Mart—it spills out into brand showrooms and satellite exhibits across the city. 

Herman Miller showcased legacy pieces alongside modern releases. It was especially interesting to see the World War II-era plywood leg splints that helped launch Eames’ career.

The Fellowes showroom impressed both in terms of the thoughtful solutions on display and the beauty of the space itself, complete with a gorgeous bar tucked inside for impromptu happy hours.

Another highlight: MNML teamed up with Advanced Design to host a killer rooftop party. It was awesome to catch up with longtime friends like Scott Wilson, Hector Silva, Mike DiTullo and many others. And, a fun surprise running into former Sprout employees, Nick Abbott and Connor Pelletier-Sutton. It was a great evening full of great conversation!

Outside the show, I made time for an architectural boat tour (highly recommend), finally scored a reservation at Girl and the Goat (absolutely worth the hype!), and capped off the trip with some live blues that hit all the right notes. 

Thanks for a great trip, Chicago! Until next time.