Get Inspired at NeoCon 2022

NeoCon 2022 starts June 13th! We have gone to NeoCon for many years as an attendee and eventually as an exhibitor. It is absolutely one of our favorite shows. If this is your first time, that’s so exciting! We highly recommend doing some prep work before you arrive so you’re well prepared. With a little bit of pre-planning, you will be inspired at NeoCon and get the most out of your experience.

5 Tips to Get Inspired at NeoCon

Make a plan.

Before you arrive, go through the exhibitor page of the NeoCon website and make a list of the showrooms you absolutely don’t want to miss. Do the same for any of the speakers, programming, or networking events. Then make a loose plan so you have some idea of where you want to be and when.

Attend a keynote presentation.

NeoCon presents daily keynotes each morning. This year, attendees can attend keynotes onsite and by viewing via live stream on the NeoCon Hub. This year’s keynote presentations are:

Between Art and Design
Nick Cave, Artist • Bob Faust, Principal & Creative Director, Faust • Moderated by Cheryl S. Durst, EVP & CEO, IIDA
Monday, June 13, 2022, 11 AM

Bruce Mau on Design
Bruce Mau, CEO & Co-Founder at Massive Change Network
Tuesday, June 14, 2022, 11 AM

Design: Sustain-Ability
Shashi Caan, Founding Partner, SC COLLECTIVE • Joined by Peter Exley, Co=Founder, Architecture is Fun
Wednesday, June 15, 2022, 11 AM

Check out the special programs.

Additionally, there is special programming scheduled for each day.

theMART 2.0: A New Era
Todd Heisner, Managing Director and Principal, Gensler • Lily Diego, Design Director, Gensler
Monday, June 13, 2022, 2:00 PM

ESG Onsite Workshop: How to Design for Climate, Health & Equity in Every Project
Susan Suhar, IIDA, NCIDQ, LEED AP, WELL AP, FitWel Amb., Interior Design Principal, HDR • JoAnna Abrams, CEO, MindClick
Tuesday, June 14, 2022, 9 AM
Note: This workshop will not be live-streamed and has a fee of $35.

Designing for Measurable Impact: ASID Outcome of Design
Royce Epstein, A&D Design Director, Mohawk Group • Alan Almasy, Director, Client Practice Group A+D and CRE, Herman Miller • Rebekah Matheny, Associate Professor of Interior Design, The Ohio State University • Karen McCallum, Senior Director of Design, CBRE Design Collective
Tuesday, June 14, 2022, 2 PM

Designing a Better Chicago – Panel Discussion
Moderator: Tanner Woodford, Founder and Executive Director, Design Museum of Chicago • Panelists: Kathy Gregg, Friedman Place • Maya Bird-Murphy, Chicago Mobile Makers • Norman Teague, SGA Youth Services • Emily Winter, The Weaving Mill
Wednesday, June 15, 2022, 1 PM

There is also a schedule of virtual CEUs. Registrants can choose from 8 program tracks including 5 – 8 CEU sessions each. Prices run from $100 – $160.

Visit the award winners.

There are several different award programs happening in conjunction with NeoCon. First, there is the Best of NeoCon. NeoCon presents these awards on the morning of June 13. You can view the gallery of 2021 winners here.

In addition, Interior Design Magazine gives out its Annual HiP Awards, “honoring industry people and innovative products.” The award presentation is Sunday night, June 12. Lastly, there are the Metropolis Likes awards and IIDA presents awards for best booth designs.

Your social media will flood with images of the winners. Still, nothing beats seeing these products in person. Definitely add the winners to your list of must-see exhibitors.

Leave theMART

Maybe this sounds counterintuitive, but it’s important to balance out the excitement of a trade show with some inspiration. Try to plan at least one other activity in Chicago that is completely unrelated to work. Maybe it’s a trip to a museum, an architecture cruise down the river, a walk through a public park, or lunch outside on the riverwalk. Give your brain a rest and let it process everything it just saw. If time is limited, even a leisurely coffee break out of theMART can do the trick.

We hope we’ll see you there! If we get a chance to chat in person, please let us know how you’ve been inspired at NeoCon. We’re always looking for more ideas! Find us on the 7th floor of theMART in booth 7-3050.