Highlights from NeoCon 2019

Held every June at The Mart in Chicago, NeoCon serves as the commercial furniture industry’s launch pad for innovation, offering ideas and prototypes that will shape how workspaces look today and into the future.

NeoCon 2019 was held from June 10 to 12 and showcased 500 manufacturers (including many Rightsize partners) and opened its doors to 50,000 professionals from the commercial design community. Our team spent three days absorbing the exciting new ideas, products, and services featured at the show. Here are some of the office furniture trends we observed.

2019 Design Trends

Like our workforce, our physical workplace is expected to be flexible, well-connected and mindful of our health and wellness. Those trends were reinforced at this year’s NeoCon. Here are a few of our favorite trends:

Integrated Technology – While technology in the contract furniture industry is nothing new, we saw manufacturers better integrating technology with aesthetic appeal. The gold-winning Watson Cloud 9 desk is an excellent example of this. Watson is one of our strategically aligned brands.
New Ergonomics – Businesses realize that in order to attract the right talent, including wellness-oriented millennials, employee health needs to be considered. To accommodate many workspaces and workstyles, several companies introduced flexible seating solutions, including many stools. Humanscale introduced its Alto stool, designed by legendary designer Don Chadwick, who is known for his work in ergonomics and seating designs. Alto's distinct stance provides stability while its contoured, flexible shell allows for the user to sit comfortably and in a more ergonomic position.
Biophilia – Biophilic design was seen all throughout showrooms this year. It’s all about bringing the outside in. Studies have shown it improves happiness and productivity in the workplace. Biophilia can include everything to mimicking organic shapes, using natural materials, letting in plenty of outdoor light to living walls within an office space.
Innovative Storage – New aesthetics like height adjustable table storage manufactured by AIS. Other manufacturers showcased lockers, fun storage accessories and sleek mobile pedestals.
Space Division – There were many new products around space division, privacy and sound attenuation including many privacy ’phone booths’ and sound control solutions for open offices.

Rightsize Contract Furniture Partners

Awards

Rightsize works with select contract furniture partners to deliver solutions that match aesthetic, functionality and budgetary goals of our clients. We were thrilled to see that many of our strategically aligned brands won awards for their products at NeoCon 2019. Click here to find out more about how we offer industry best discounting on leading manufacturers.

2019 Best of NeoCon Winners

Acoustic Privacy & Modular Solutions
Gold: OFS: Leant To

Conference Room Furniture

Silver: Andreu World: Reverse Wood

Furniture Collections for Collaboration
Silver: STYLEX: Free Address

Furniture Systems & Enhancements
Gold: Watson Furniture Group: Cloud 9 Rail

Lounge Furniture Collections
Silver: Andreu World: Rap Sofa

Office Accessories
Silver: Watson Furniture Group: Cloud 9 Cart and Garage

Seating: Benches
Editors’ Choice: Nienkämper: Heartbeat
Silver: Allermuir: Axyl Bench

Seating: Conference
Gold: OFS: Kasura

Seating: Ergonomic Desk/Task
Gold: via seating: Younique

Seating: Guest
Gold: Allermuir: Kin
Silver: Andreu World: Gala