NeoCon 2021: Tips for an Inspiring Experience

NeoCon 2021 starts October 4th! We have gone to NeoCon for many years as an attendee and we love it! It is absolutely one of our favorite shows. If this is your first time, we wanted to share our tips for getting the most out of your experience.

5 Tips to Guarantee a Successful NeoCon

Make a plan.

It is easy to get overwhelmed at events like this. theMART is a big space, and let’s be honest, we’re all a little rusty at in-person events after the past year and a half. Before you arrive, spend time going 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 or programming. Then make a loose plan so you have some idea of where you want to be when and what you’ll need to succeed.

Attend a keynote presentation.

NeoCon presents daily keynotes each morning. This year, attendees can attend keynotes in person or view them via live stream. Be aware, they are limiting onsite attendance. If you want to attend in person, you’ll need to register ahead of time. This year’s keynote speakers are:

Monday, October 4, 11AM – 12PM
Jeanne Gang, Founding Partner, Studio Gang
“Furniture for the City”: Recasting Urban Design through Micro-Activation

Tuesday, October 5, 11AM – 12PM
Frans Johansson, Author and CEO of The Medici Group
The Medici Effect: Innovation at the Intersection

Wednesday, October 6, 11AM – 12PM
Jackie Koo, Founding Principal at KOO
Taming Push me Pull you: KOO’s Integrated Architectural and Interior Design Practice

Check out the special programs.

Additionally, there is special programming scheduled for each day presented both onsite and available via livestream for those attending virtually.

Monday, October 4, 2PM – 3PM
Marti Konstant, Workplace Futurist, Konstant Change
You’ve Got to be You’ve Got to be From the Future to Design a Resilient Workplace: From the Sketchbook of a Workplace Futurist, Design Thinker, and Agility Researcher

Tuesday, October 5, 2PM – 3PM
Lauren Rottet, Founding Principal and President, Rottet Studio
Expanding Your Practice: Designing for the Residential Market

There is also a schedule of virtual CEUs.

Visit the award winners.

There are several different award programs happening in conjunction with NeoCon. First, there is the Best of NeoCon. You can view all the entrants here. NeoCon presents these awards bright and early Monday morning.

Interior Design Magazine also give out their Annual HiP Awards, “honoring industry people and innovative products.” We are thrilled to be finalists in three HiP Award categories: Workplace: Acoustical Wall Applications, Hospitality: Wall Covering, Health + Wellness: Fabrics + Textiles. These awards are presented Sunday night, October 3 at 6:30CST/7:30EST and will livestreamed on the Interior Design Facebook page. Tune in to see if we win!

Lastly, there are the Metropolis Likes awards and IIDA presents awards for best booth designs. I’m sure your social media will be flooded with images of the winners, but nothing beats seeing these products in person.  

Leave theMART

OK, maybe this sounds counterintuitive, but it’s important to balance out the excitement of a trade show with a bit of totally unrelated inspiration. Try to plan at least one other activity in Chicago that is completely unrelated to your work. Maybe it’s a trip to a museum, a walk through a garden, or just wandering aimlessly along The Mile. Give your brain a rest and let it process everything it just saw. If time is limited, even a leisurely coffee break a few blocks away can do the trick.

We hope we’ll see you there! Visit Design Pool on the 7th floor of theMART in booth 7-4049. We can’t wait to introduce you to The Cryptology Collection.