Biophilic design, privacy, adaptable furniture and technology were among the trends spotted at NeoCon this year.
June 22nd, 2017
NeoCon, the global trade show and conference platform for commercial interiors, hit Chicago again this year from 12-14 June at The Mart. Registered attendance was up 7 per cent over last year. As always there were plenty of workplace products on show, and some discernible trends emerged: biophilic design, privacy, adaptable furniture, acoustic comfort, and technology.
Carpet with organic textures and sustainable manufacturing processes, biological lighting and green-wall planters were among the products addressing biophilic design directions. Agile partitions and mobile pods addressed the push for privacy in the workplace. Versatile, modular and adaptable furniture showed the crucial role of collaboration spaces, and acoustic products showed how they need to be moderated. And the evolving tech category had its own section, showcasing everything from VR and AR to new software, wearables and wireless charging.
Herman Miller introduced its new digital platform, Live OS – a system for connected furnishings. The subscription-based Live OS service includes an app and dashboard to offer databased insights about changing needs in the workplace. Once the app has been paired with any connected desk, Live OSprovides anonymous sensor-based data and insights that allow the management and optimisation of space utilisation.
The Prospect range of semicircular freestanding screen structures, designed for Herman Miller by Richard Holbrook, won a Gold Award in the Best of NeoCon awards programme (‘Furniture Collections for Collaboration’ category).
Antonio Citterio’s CDS system (Citterio Desking System) for Vitra was another winner, picking up a Silver Award and an Innovation Award in the category of ‘Tables: Height-Adjustable’. This modular system can be configured as individual tables, clusters of multiple workstations, spacious workbenches or meeting tables in various sizes. All are available either at a fixed height or as manual or motor operated sit-stand solutions.
Humanscale’s Infinity light was awarded Silver in the ‘Lighting: Desktop/Task, Furniture-Integrated’ category. This flexible LED light is easily adjusted with its constant-torque ‘Forever Hinge’, which allows seamless movement yet maintains a secure position.
Other award winners included JANUS et Cie for the Katachi High Back Lounge Chair; Senator for the Rapt chair; Steelcase Health for Surround and Steelcase Education for the Verb Active Media Table; Shaw Contract for Emergence; Knollfor Anchor Raised Storage; BuzziSpace for BuzziPleat; as well as Teknion and Andreu World, who won three and four Best of NeoCon awards respectively.
One of our favourites from the show is Okamura’s new Alt Piazza shared furniture collection, which offers a secondary workspace to support a wider array of worker needs. The main counter has easy-access power outlets under the edge of the tabletop, providing ancillary support and keeping the floor free of cords. The two-tiered bench easily accommodates increases in group size.
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
Sub-Zero and Wolf’s prestigious Kitchen Design Contest (KDC) has celebrated the very best in kitchen innovation and aesthetics for three decades now. Recognising premier kitchen design professionals from around the globe, the KDC facilitates innovation, style and functionality that pushes boundaries.
As well as considering the materials and processes used to manufacture furniture solutions, companies like Workspace are shifting their focus to the entire lifespan of products.
Channelling the enchanting ambience of the Caffè Greco in Rome, Budapest’s historic Gerbeaud, and Grossi Florentino in Melbourne, Ross Didier’s new collection evokes the designer’s affinity for café experience, while delivering refined seating for contemporary hospitality interiors.
Karman, the ultimate ergonomic mesh chair from Steelcase, represents an elevation in seating innovation and Steelcase’s contemporary vision for the workplace.
The workplace can be organised according to four foundational space typologies. But how do we maximise the ergonomics of each?
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
The latest iteration of Tanatap deploys walls as a key architectural device to create both a cooler microclimate and elevated spatial experience.
In what is a growing workplace precinct, Fieldwork has wrapped a distinctive skin of operable screens around this office block.