NeoCon 2022
NeoCon 2022
Welcome Back!
NeoCon returned to its usual time frame this past June after the 2020 show was canceled and moved to October 2021, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The commercial design industry’s most important event held at theMart in Chicago, IL is a chance for the contract industry's major manufacturers, as well as emerging ones, to showcase thousands of new products and services including furniture, interior finishes, and technology. Despite attendance lower than pre-pandemic levels, Neocon 2022 featured positive energy and enthusiasm as the design community reunited and looked toward the future with optimism.
Notable Trends for 2022
DISTINCTIVE COLORS
Showrooms unveiled a decidedly feminine color palette of warm, soft pinks, sage greens, and pops of lilac. Burgundy and dark, moody greens added contrast and drama. Suggesting a shift from typical gray and neutral office space, these colors create a more pleasant and cheerful work environment.
PLAYFUL TEXTURES & PATTERNS
Traditionally residential fabrics -- like warm velvets and boucles - were seen everywhere this year. Bringing a soft, feminine touch to lounge pieces, these fabrics help evoke the comfort level of the home. Boldly patterned walls, geometric shapes, and floral patterns added visual interest throughout many of the showrooms.
SOFT CORNERS AND SHAPES
Rounded corners, curvilinear shapes, and arches were a popular trend in showrooms this year. According to researchers, people perceive rounded corners to be more inviting. As companies persuade their workers back to the office, rounded tables and seating create a welcoming, comfortable space.
BIOPHILIA
Vertical planter gardens that help define space and increase privacy in an open office environment were also on display. Integrating planters at the ends of bookshelves or between spaces brings the outdoors in and promotes wellness. Borrowed from maximalism, dried flowers in muted colors and natural structured shapes were boldly displayed throughout many showrooms.
This year’s show looked a bit different since between 2019 and 2022 many mainstay brands left theMart to open showrooms a mile away in the hip Fulton Market District. Knoll was the first to make the move and now Teknion, Humanscale, Inscape and many others have chosen to make this trendy district their home. Fulton Market’s mix of rehabbed old loft buildings and newly constructed sustainable high rises give the area a resimercial character marking a new style of living, working, and playing in Chicago. This concept aligns with what’s been happening in contract design, especially after the pandemic, as workers requiring more flexibility look at the office as a destination worth visiting. Light-filled lofts and outdoor space paired with an abundance of new restaurants, retail, art galleries, and nightlife are drawing showrooms, office tenants, and residents alike to the area. Although this added a new component to the NeoCon experience, attendees had to balance the logistics of visiting off-site showrooms with everything to see in theMart.
See you next year at NeoCon 2023!
/ / happenings
Be sure to check in with the IIDA New England calendar for upcoming events (both virtual and in-person) offered in our community. Here's a sneak peek at some upcoming events:
IIDA NE Committee Fair // Wednesday, July 13 *VIRTUAL
IIDA NE Community Engagement Committee Beneficiary Celebration Cornhole Tournament // Thursday, July 21 *IN PERSON
IIDA NE Croquet Tournament // Thursday, August 4 *IN PERSON
IIDA NE 15th Annual Design Awards // Wednesday, September 14 *IN PERSON & VIRTUAL
Also, be sure to keep an eye on our IIDA New England job postings, which are updated regularly!
/ / sponsor highlight
MillerKnoll / Creative Office Resources
Company Name: MillerKnoll
Company Establishment Date: Herman Miller and Knoll are two iconic brands that started designing and producing furniture in the early 1900s. Herman Miller was established in 1905 and Knoll in 1938. Herman Miller and Knoll merged as one company in August 2021, but our MillerKnoll brand was established and launched in June of 2022.
Company Description: MillerKnoll is a collective of dynamic brands that comes together to design the world we live in. Together, we form an unparalleled platform for building a more sustainable, caring, equitable, and beautiful world.
Company Mission Statement: For MillerKnoll, ‘design’ is not only furniture and placemaking—it’s our craft, curiosity, skill, intention, and ideas in action. It’s how we’re shaping the world for the better, for everyone.
Company Products / Services: Underneath the MillerKnoll umbrella, we have 17 unique brands that will help you create the right space for residential and commercial design.
New England Locations:
Our team covers the entire New England territory!
New England Contacts:
Ashley Williams, Strategic Relationship Executive ashley_williams@knoll.com
Lisa Carlin, Strategic Relationship Executive lisa_carlin@hermanmiller.com
Linda Durant, Ancillary Relationship Executive linda_b_durant@knoll.com
Question: What is the best part of being an IIDA NE Chapter Sponsor?
There are too many things to list! It is a joy being part of this design community where we can all foster deeper relationships and create memories and projects that last for a lifetime. As a sponsor, we love the opportunity to give back to the community through the different committee events and hope to inspire future generations to join our industry. We love IIDA!
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Company Name: Creative Office Resources (COR)
Company Establishment Date: January 2022 – COR was established as merger of Creative Office Pavilion (established in 1986) and Office Resources (established in 1997)
Company Description: COR is a large MillerKnoll furniture dealer dedicated to building productive, positive environments designed to empower the people within them.
Company Mission Statement: Transforming our surroundings into human-centered spaces.
Company Products / Services: COR is a full service furniture dealer dedicated to building solutions for employees to do their best work. Services include product specification and layout, project management, asset management, workplace development.
New England Locations:
Locations across New England include: Boston, MA; Worcester, MA, Providence, RI, Portland, ME, Portsmouth, NH and Manchester, NH
New England Contacts:
Rob Pendleton, Market Manager, A+D rob.pendleton@creativeofficeresources.com
Dina DiTommaso, EVP Business Development and A+D Relations dina.ditommaso@creativeofficeresources.com
Question: What is the best part of being an IIDA NE Chapter Sponsor?
As a sponsor, we so enjoy the numerous opportunities to connect with the IIDA community. We are
proud to be a sponsor of this organization and support the members as they shape the future of design.
