NeoCon 2025 is just around the corner, and we’re packing our notebooks, cameras, and walking shoes. As the premier commercial design fair in North America, NeoCon brings together the best in contract furniture, flooring, lighting, textiles, and more June 9-11, 2025 – all under the very busy roof of THE MART in Chicago. From innovative materials and workplace solutions to playful collaborations and wellness-centric design, this year’s lineup promises no shortage of inspiration. Need to register? There’s still time! In the meantime, here’s a peek at just a few things we’re most excited to check out on the show floor and beyond:
NeoCon will make a lasting first impression before you even set through the doors with ART on THE MART, the world’s largest digital art project. Acclaimed architecture and design firm Perkins&Will will transform THE MART’s 2.5-acre facade into a massive moving artwork that honors Chicago’s creative and enduring spirit.
This year’s theme, Design Ahead, sets the tone for an exciting and forward-looking show. NeoCon’s conference program will feature an exceptional lineup of speakers, including three visionary keynotes. Annie Jean-Baptiste, author of Building for Everyone and Director of Products for All at Google, will present Designing for Global Innovation, exploring how inclusive, human-centered design can create more resonant, impactful products for diverse audiences. Design critic and author Alice Rawsthorn, cofounder of the Design Emergency podcast, will highlight design’s power to enrich and improve daily life in Design as an Attitude. Last but not least, in Bring Impossible Ideas to Life, Chris Barton, founder and creator of Shazam, will share how perseverance, creativity, and innovation transformed a simple idea into one of the world’s most beloved tech tools – and what designers can learn from that journey. NeoCon Talks will also delve into bold perspectives on next-gen creativity, workplace evolution, technology & AI, human-centered design, and brand & storytelling.
NeoCon’s CEU program will be both on-site and online, packed with over 60 sessions that feel especially timely, tackling topics like circularity, decarbonization, designing for (and by) Gen Z, neurodivergence, and AI-driven materials. With experts from top firms, universities, and media outlets, the lineup offers real-world strategies and fresh perspectives that speak to the most current conversations in design. Bonus: all sessions will be available on demand through October 1, 2025, so you can catch up even after the show.
This year’s hands-on workshops are all about stepping away from the conference room and diving into the creative process. With topics like color psychology, sustainable materials, visual storytelling, and sketching techniques, these sessions are designed to push the limits of design thinking while sharpening real-world skills.
There’s so much more happening, from the Best of NeoCon Awards presentations and showroom expansions by legacy names like Wolf-Gordon, Turf, Green Hides, and Andreu World, to a wave of permanent newcomers on the show floor, including West Elm Work, Arktura, Baresque, Smith System, and more. And the fun doesn’t stop there – the city comes alive with a food-meets-art lunch, exclusive tours at the Ramona Theatre and the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, and hands-on studio workshops.
For the full NeoCon 2025 programming, visit neocon.com. There’s a lot to cover, so make sure you’re in the loop and register today to start planning your trip. See you there!