NeoCon 2022 Recap Part 1: The Values Driving The Trends
Each year, thousands of commercial interior designers, vendors, manufacturers, fabricators, and general design enthusiasts make their way to Chicago’s historic Merchandise Mart to take in the latest and greatest that the industry has to offer. Making quite a comeback following two quiet years, NeoCon showed up in many big ways for 2022.
This was the first year that our Farmhands attended the conference as we continue to expand our lens in the commercial design space, seeking out what’s on the leading edge of our industry and where our creative capabilities can contribute to these opportunities. Creative Lead Laurenn Machin and Senior Marketing Manager Mel Mok flew in to explore the sights and sounds of Chicago, connecting with various vendors and designers in attendance from around North America and beyond.
While there were countless sources of inspiration to be found at every turn, what caught our team’s attention went beyond the beauty and functionality of the products–it was the concepts and values that spearheaded the development of these products to begin with. In this first part of our NeoCon roundup, we present three values-driven trends that extend well beyond form and function, addressing needs in our world that the design industry at large has the power and influence to make a contribution for the better.
Socially Responsible and Inclusive Design
Who are we designing for? A simple question, but one that–if not considered in depth and with diverse lived experiences in mind–can lead to isolating environments and experiences for many end users. Promisingly, we saw a shift in focus that moved towards more holistic and responsible approaches to design that embrace ethical, cultural, and humanitarian values. It encourages conversations around who we consider as our audiences, who are on the other side of the manufacturing and fabrication of the products we use, and what gaps we have in our industry today that need to be filled in order to create an ethical and inclusive space for all people. It’s our responsibility as designers to shape our practices and considerations to address the human realities that are still largely ignored.
At Metropolis’ Sustainability Lab, they hosted a series of talks and panel discussions exploring the realms of designing with positive impact. One that went beyond environmental impacts was their Design for Justice panel which touched on three examples of social responsibility and inclusivity in commercial design:
Product sourcing not only through the lens of environmental sustainability but also through ethical manufacturing
The important work in fostering and developing a diverse and inclusive space within the design community that also offers equitable opportunities for more representation amongst underrepresented and marginalized communities in order to design and serve these communities
The need for inclusive practices that address the needs of neurodivergent end users
The Interior Design Pledge for Positive Impact board at Metropolis’ Sustainability Lab © NeoCon
Each example was nuanced and face complexities in our current system, but with a shift in mindset and intentional practices, all of us within the design community can make a drastic collective impact for the better. For example, mindfulMaterials – a free-to-use resource bank developed with several industry leaders including HKS’ Research team – highlights products that use ESG and JEDI frameworks including human health, climate health, circularity, and social health & equity. It’s thanks to the diligent work and research done by contributing thought leaders that empower us to be more insightful and impactful with our work. All we need to do is follow suit.
Sustainable Design
While a very familiar concept nowadays, the innovations within sustainable design practices saturated the NeoCon landscape, continuing the design of physical objects, built environments, and services to comply with the principles of ecological sustainability that also aim to improve the individual’s health and comfortability within their surroundings.
Andreu World’s entire product line is a great example of our industry’s dedication to sustainable design. As the first company to have a complete 100% FSC offering, its entire ethos centers around sustainability without sacrificing design quality. These efforts don’t go unnoticed: they were once again awarded several “Best Of NeoCon” gold awards for design and innovation in several product categories.
The Oru collection by Patricia Urquiola. © Andreu World.
In Out Office Lounge Furniture collection by Alfredo Häberli © Andreu World
Another great example is the Nienkämper’s Rowan Lounge Collection by Yabu Pushelberg, whose biophilic-inspired organic pieces were also awarded for their sustainability practices. These kinds of innovations prove that there’s plenty of room to expand on the impacts of form and function in design.
© Nienkämper
Flexibility and Freedom of Customization
The return to work strategies in our new realities have been – and will continue to be – a puzzle that designers will be trying to solve for the next few years at a minimum. Through the course of the pandemic, plenty of unaddressed workplace needs came to light which highlighted the gaps that designers can fill that offer the flexibility and need for customization that end users are demanding. There was a clear focus on servicing all needs, accessibility, fluidity of space, and expanding our thinking of how we use spaces with the greatest positive impact on the employee experience and company culture.
This is especially needed in the workplace when designing for a spectrum of office worker needs. As more folks head back into the office, they’re finding the workplace noisier and more disruptive than their home office, which exponentially impacts employees with neurodivergent needs. Design firm HOK found that 77% of studied neurodiverse employees said they were hypersensitive to noise and sound in the workplace. Supportive products like Nook’s wellness pods and zenbooth brought forward mindful solutions that create a more inclusive and considered space to help employees find their flow within the office environment. It’s not just about finding a quiet space for a meeting, it’s an element of reprieve that supports in employee productivity, satisfaction, and belonging.
© Nook Wellness Pods
You may have come to this point thinking “what does this have to do with art?” Without a doubt, these values-centric trends extend into opportunities within the art advisory space, and we have our own part to play in contributing to and pushing the needle on design practices that create a more connecting, inclusive, positively impactful experience for the end user: a visitor, a guest, a patient, an employee, a community member, a citizen.
There was plenty of discussion around the intersection of art, design, and the power they have in contributing back to a better, stronger, more sustainable, and more equitable future. You can read all about that in part two of our NeoCon recap diving into the powerful takeaways from this year’s Keynote Speakers: “Art Has A Job To Do.”
More From The Almanac
