Now that the dust has settled and participants have started to process the NeoCon 2013 office furniture wonderland on display in Chicago, there are plenty of good news articles about the show. Here’s a quick roundup from across the web showcasing a few of the cool designs on display.
The convention may be getting bigger each year, but offices are getting smaller. That’s the takeaway message from chicagobusiness.com. With smaller spaces come tiny accessories – with LED task lighting being a prime example. While keeping your illumination to yourself is useful, keeping your cellphone conversations private is even more important. The Massaud felt canopy that a user can draw down over their chair to create a “cone of silence” apparently created quite a (muted) buzz. Seclusion was a recurring theme with many office furniture manufacturers presenting pod-like structures that can be used by individuals or small groups in an otherwise open office plan.
Our neighbors north of the border are also taking notice of the biggest contract furniture tradeshow in the US. They took the time to give a shout out to Teknion for its four Best of NeoCon wins. Fractals won a Gold award in the seating category. This group of furnishings presents variations on rounded geometric shapes in a series of lounges, chairs and ottomans that can be clustered together to create any number of arrangements. The company also took home prizes for “Surface Tension” textiles, “Optos” movable walls and enhancements to the Interpret desking system.
Seeyond Architectural Solutions
This company was another winner at NeoCon 2013 with walls that are far more than a vertical surface. The futuristic, internally lit shapes from this vendor don’t just separate space – they sculpt it. The startup is only a couple of years old, but has consistently returned home from the Chicago tradeshow with accolades for its innovative approach to internal office architecture. It has one of the few product lines that can bring in awards in categories as diverse as movable walls and decorative lighting. We expect to see much more innovation in the future from this strong contender.
