Design Days + NeoCon 2026

Each year, Design Days and NeoCon offer more than a look at new products and showroom experiences — they provide insight into how the built environment continues to evolve around people, behavior, and experience.

As our team prepares to head to Chicago, we’re paying close attention to several themes shaping the future of workplace, healthcare, education, retail, and commercial interiors.

Hospitality Influence Continues to Shape the Workplace

The workplace continues moving away from traditional corporate environments and toward spaces that feel more welcoming, comfortable, and human-centered.

Across industries, organizations are prioritizing:

• softer material palettes
• residential influences
• amenity-driven spaces
• café and lounge environments
• spaces designed to foster connection

The goal is no longer simply functionality — it’s creating environments people genuinely want to spend time in.

Wellness Is Becoming More Holistic

Wellness conversations have expanded far beyond ergonomic seating.

Today’s environments increasingly consider:

• acoustic comfort
• sensory experience
• lighting quality
• posture variety
• focus and recharge spaces
• emotional comfort

We expect many of this year’s conversations and showroom experiences to reflect this broader, more human-centered approach to wellbeing.

Flexibility Is Becoming More Intentional

The early push for maximum flexibility often resulted in environments that lacked clarity or purpose.

Organizations are now seeking spaces that support multiple work styles while still creating structure, usability, and meaningful experiences.

We’re especially interested in how manufacturers and designers are approaching:

• adaptable planning
• neighborhood-based environments
• modularity
• multi-functional settings
• hybrid collaboration

Sustainability Conversations Are Evolving

Clients are asking deeper questions around sustainability, lifecycle impacts, transparency, and responsible sourcing.

This year, we anticipate continued focus on:

• material transparency
• circularity
• embodied carbon
• product longevity
• re-use and repurposing
• measurable sustainability outcomes

Spaces Designed for Human Connection

Perhaps most importantly, organizations continue rethinking how spaces support collaboration, mentorship, culture, and community.

As hybrid work evolves, the workplace increasingly serves as a destination for connection — not simply a location for individual task work.

That shift continues influencing everything from planning strategies to ancillary settings and hospitality-inspired gathering spaces.

We’re excited to explore these conversations throughout the week and bring back ideas, inspiration, and insights that help our clients create environments designed for what’s next.