NeoCon Celebrates 51 Years of Commercial Design This Week

For the fifty-first year, NeoCon returns to the Chicago Merchandise Mart to showcase the best of the commercial design world. This year’s edition is currently underway and concludes on June 12.

According to the conference website, 500 leading companies and more than 50,000 professional designs are in attendance this week. Tomorrow’s final keynote address, “Do No Harm: The Role of Design in Complicated Times” will be presented by Liz Ogbu, Founder & Principal of Studio O in New York.

UPDATE: 12:17 p.m. CST

The above photo comes courtesy of NeoCon.

UPDATE: 10:14 a.m. CST

Beata Klecha, VP of Marketing at Element Designs, has been checking out the show floor this morning and photographing some of the most compelling and innovative exhibits in her eyes.

Below is a black matte and wood office setup by Geiger. Klecha was particularly impressed by the dark gray heather tack board. Black matte continues to be a prominent design trend in 2019.

The next picture submitted by Klecha features new occasional tables by Studio TK in various metallic finishes. According to Element Designs, these finishes are one of today’s primary design trends, with growing prominence in kitchen, bath, living and bedrooms across the world.

Klecha also photographed the below image of a HermanMiller Eames lounge chair, inspired by the classic Vans checkerboard print. The famous shoes are seen beside the chair here.

Terry Coffey of Draper Inc. submitted to MarketScale this photo of one of the company’s commercial window shade products.

Stay tuned for more product images and demonstrations from the show today and tomorrow and plenty more perspective from NeoCon 2019.

For the latest news in the world of architecture and design, head to our industry page and sign up for our weekly newsletter!

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

Engineering
Scaling Experiential Learning in the Curriculum: How Iron Range Engineering Transformed Engineering Education
June 1, 2026

Engineering has transformed nearly every part of modern life, from the phones in our pockets to the systems powering global industry. But the way engineers are educated has often moved far more slowly than the profession itself. Employers are asking for graduates who can navigate ambiguity, communicate across teams, and contribute meaningfully from the…

Read More
vascular surgeon
When Geography Meets Purpose: How One Move Reshaped a Vascular Surgeon’s Career
May 28, 2026

Medicine isn’t what it used to be—not for the people practicing it. Independent physicians are becoming the exception, not the norm, as more doctors move into hospital systems, corporate groups, and academic networks. At the same time, the pipeline of specialists isn’t keeping pace with growing patient needs, particularly in complex fields like vascular…

Read More
safer HVAC chemicals
From Second Chances to Stronger Teams: Bradley Henderson on Structure, Culture, and Trades-Based Redemption
May 26, 2026

The trades have always demanded grit, but grit alone doesn’t build a strong workforce. People need structure, clear expectations, and a sense that their work is taking them somewhere. That’s especially true in HVAC and mechanical services, where employers are trying to hire, retain, and develop talent in a labor market that feels tighter and…

Read More
courage
Creative Confidence and Moral Courage: The Leadership Traits Business Schools Should Be Betting On
May 25, 2026

What students need from higher education is becoming harder to pin down than it once was. As higher education faces mounting pressure—from student disengagement to the rapid rise of artificial intelligence—institutions are being forced to rethink not just what students learn, but who they become. New research and industry signals suggest that technical knowledge…

Read More