Inspiration from Chicago | NeoCon Design Days Recap

This year, we saw brands lean into sensory experiences, inclusive ideas, and real-life functionality—from soft geometry and natural materials to integrated pet spaces and acoustic lighting displays.

The trends weren’t just about aesthetics—they were about how people live and work together. Spaces felt warmer, quieter, more flexible—and, honestly, more fun.

Scroll through our highlights below—and reach out if something catches your eye. We’d love to talk about how these ideas can show up in your next project.

Soft edges stole the show this year. From seating and tables to lighting and architectural elements, rounded forms brought a sense of calm, comfort, and approachability to every space. 

Curved silhouettes invite touch, signal safety, and help spaces feel more fluid and human. We saw this trend across a wide range of showrooms—appearing in lounge furniture, privacy pods, planters, and training tables.

Whether it’s a fully circular chair or just a softened corner, these subtle shapes help create environments that feel less rigid and more welcoming—perfect for spaces that encourage connection, focus, or quiet recharge.

Tonal drenching made a bold statement across the showrooms this year. This approach—where a single hue is layered across walls, furniture, lighting, and accessories—created immersive environments that felt cohesive, intentional, and calming.

We saw everything from muted earth tones to saturated brights, each space fully committed to its chosen palette. The result? A rich visual experience that draws you in without overwhelm.

Tonal drenching is a storytelling tool. It lets the materiality, form, and texture of each piece shine while reinforcing mood and brand identity. 

Wood, wool, cork, leather, stone—natural materials made a strong, grounded impression at NeoCon and Design Days this year. Across furniture, finishes, and acoustic solutions, we saw a clear return to tactile, honest materials that bring warmth and texture into the built environment.

This wasn’t just about aesthetics—it was about experience. Natural materials have a way of softening a space, creating a sensory connection that feels calm and familiar. They also speak to sustainability in a more tangible way: fewer coatings, fewer synthetics, more authenticity.

From raw-edged wood tables to felted wool lounge chairs and stone-topped credenzas, these elements reminded us that good design often starts with what’s real—and ends with how it makes us feel.

As awareness of neurodiversity grows, inclusive design is reshaping the built environment. At this year’s NeoCon, showrooms reflected that shift with immersive, multisensory experiences.

Instead of traditional product displays focused on sight and touch, exhibitors embraced spatial storytelling—engaging all five senses to tell a more complete design story. 

Lighting shifted with mood, soundscapes set the tone, and every detail—from scent to texture—was curated to draw you deeper into the space. It’s a shift we’re excited about—one that prioritizes how spaces function and feel, not just how they look. The best showrooms made us want to linger, explore, and imagine what’s possible in our own projects.

Sound management got a cozy upgrade this year. We saw felt, wool, and fabric-wrapped panels used in sculptural, unexpected ways—adding texture while dialing down the noise.