above > courtesy nendo and fritz hansen / photography akihiro yoshida
household waste redesigned – introducing the n02™ recycle chair from fritz hansen. n02™ recycle is a new, all-purpose chair from fritz hansen made of upcycled plastic, household waste – it is our first chair produced in colored, recycled polypropylene.
the chair is fritz hansen’s first move towards creating a chair for the circular economy, as it is made from recycled plastic and can be recycled again at the end of its life.
the strong, stackable chair is designed in collaboration with japanese studio nendo and inspired by a simple crease of paper on the designer’s work table. the folded paper translated into a crease in the chair’s shell that makes the design support the sitter’s upper and lower back.
the chair’s elegant shell is made of circular plastic, meaning it is made of recycled plastic that can be recycled again if necessary. the plastic used for n02™ recycle comes from household, plastic waste collected, processed and upcycled in central europe, reducing transportation.
7 shell color options are inspired by earthy, warm tones in scandinavian nature. these colors and multiple leg options make n02™ recycle a strong solution for dining rooms, home offices, meeting rooms or as extra, multi-purpose seating. the wipeable, plastic shell is child-friendly and very easy to clean.
“we wanted to do a versatile, plastic, stacking chair in recycled materials. collaborating with studio nendo meant the design would be simple and elegant, a really nice blend of scandinavian and japanese aesthetics,” says christian andresen, head of design at fritz hansen.
“n02™ recycle can also be considered a statement of intent from fritz hansen. we have developed extensive knowledge and experience creating beautiful, well designed stacking chairs such as the iconic series 7™ and ant™. the n02™ recycle is the latest chair design in that tradition. it was not easy to create a recycled and recyclable chair that meets fritz hansen’s quality standards, but the result was worth all the experiments and hours spent brainstorming,” he added.
“the fact that the material is constructed from everyday recycled plastic creates an extra connection between the user and the chair. it’s an accessible design made for everyday use and made from everyday recycled, household plastics,” says oki sato of nendo. (below)
[ vitals ]
the shell is made of 100% recycled/recyclable polypropylene
colors: dark orange, dark red, dark blue, light blue, grey, black, off white
sledge base is chromed steel (50% recycled)
swivel bases is polished aluminum (95% recycled)
all other bases come in powder coated steel (monochrome) or chromed steel upon request
arms always match the base finish
available in stores november 2019
[ neocon’s 51st edition ] since 1969 neocon continues to serve as the world’s premier platform and most important event of the year for the commercial design industry. below are events with the merchandise mart as well as off-site satellite offerings.
neocon at the merchandise mart | 222 west merchandise mart plaza chicago [ directions ] /
[ show info ] /
monday 10 june 9am > 5pm
tuesday 11 june 9am > 5pm
wednesday 12 june 9am > 3pm
the world’s leading platform and most important event of the year for the commercial design industry celebrates its 52nd edition with the latest ideas, products, and experiences to inspire, connect and engage.
join luminaire for an exhibition of fantoni's newest collection -- atelier. designed in collaboration with gensler, the adaptive furniture solution empowers creative, yet practical work environments.
skyline design is pleased to introduce oblique & chevron, a line of architectural glass designs created by the renowned team of ronan and erwan bouroullec. the collection will debut at skyline design’s merchandise mart showroom during neocon, the annual design show in chicago, which takes place from 10 > 12 june 10.
pioneering ergonomics company honors the legacy of designer niels diffrient & the first ever self-adjusting chair with activations around the world and throughout the year.
this year marks the twentieth anniversary of niels diffrient’s freedom chair. launched by humanscale, the freedom chair revolutionized the seating industry as the first ever self-adjusting chair. it is revered for its elegant simplicity, functionality and timeless design. to mark the occasion, humanscale is launching a year long initiative that will include various events and activations around the world.
“niels shared our belief that form flows from function, and therefore, created something that is honest, timeless and as relevant in new york as it is in helsinki and singapore,” says humanscale ceo and founder robert king.
introduced in 1999, the freedom was the first chair to remove the traditional manual knobs and levers and replace them with the sitter’s body weight and the laws of physics. this resulting self-adjusting mechanism allows users to move freely from posture to posture without thinking about it. diffrient effectively reinvented the modern task chair and changed the way people sit.
shortly after its launch, the freedom was praised by the new york times for ‘setting the gold standard’ in seating. today sales total over 2 million pieces. freedom has also won 10 international awards and been featured in close to 50 tv shows and films.
“perhaps more interesting is that the self-adjusting mechanism is increasingly relevant in today’s work environment. in fact, now, twenty years later, the large furniture companies have finally launched self-adjusting chairs claiming it’s the future of seating. that’s just another testament to niels’ foresight,” adds king.
the iconic chair is set to begin an official world tour throughout 2019, making monthly appearances in cities and important events around the globe, including milan (salone del mobile), london (clerkenwell design week), new york (icff) and chicago (neocon) and more. as the first chair to adapt to real people and real movement, these activations will give trade and consumers the opportunity to personally experience and celebrate freedom’s intuitive ergonomic design and the legacy of niels diffrient.
[ humanscale ]
humanscale leverages new technology and functional design to transform traditional offices into active, intelligent workspaces. as the leading designer and manufacturer of high-performance ergonomic products, humanscale improves the health and comfort of work life. committed to making a net-positive impact on the earth as well as our customers, humanscale offers award-winning products designed with a focus on function, simplicity and longevity.
DesignApplause spoke to spanish designer patricia urquiola in the andreu world chicago showroom during neocon. we talk about her the nuez seat collection, which obtained a hip award in the category hospitality: seating at neocon. the chair is described as enveloping, suggestive, warm and at the same time technological. made of injected thermoplastic, it offers different options for the shell interior: fully upholstered, with upholstered seat or with padded seat and backrest. the different bases versions – four wooden legs, aluminum star, five casters or cantilever – come with a range of ten distinct colors for the shell and numerous upholstery options for the seat and backrest. a versatile design, capable of integrating into any type of corporate environment and also at home. the chair launched at salone del mobile 2017.
[patricia urquiola] we’re speaking about a new product introduction, nuez, which means ‘nut’ in english, from valencia-based [ andreu world ]. i’m very proud of our relationship, one we’ve kept for years that’s grown into friendships. we now know each other’s approach well enough where words easily translate into feelings and shapes.
why do this chair? they asked for formal and discrete, very gentle, very easy. though the company does incredible work in other materials, they were looking for a new material not in their workspace portfolio. our discussions led to plastic and they know that my injection approach is always striving for little details that are a bit curious and distinctive. what evolved was a shell concept.
we liked the concept of one shell using two elements, because of the way the two elements, like two papers, came together, like in a nut. from the back of the shell the elements created little wings which felt natural and just right. we pleated the plastic shell for aesthetics and textures giving it a materiality, a sense of touch. compared to our prior collection called nub, which was very… crafted, nuez represents a completely dissimilar notion.
[DesignApplause]nuez is crisp yet shapely. very light and does feel good to the touch. what’s her character like?
[PU] both my company and andreu philosophies are similar on many fronts. we’re all concerned, about who we work with and the way we proceed. we work with nature with a high regard for sustainability and social responsibility. we’re efficient, we produce functionality, durability, timelessness and our work, well it looks like our work. and in the end i’m very proud of this project.
[DA] what’s big on your mind right now? what’s important?
[PU] this is a conversation about a process. a company gives you a brief, you give an answer and you work in this kind of duet. it’s a beautiful established way a designer works within an industrial project. now i’m not a young designer, i’m a mature designer who’s been working this way for awhile. lately i’m doing a lot of experimentation with a group at haworth contributing to define a future vision for the group, creating an umbrella over everything. // in 2015, patricia became cassina’s art director tasked with creative management.
in the beginning it was an object and then a collection. but now we also talk about the relations of objects and space, the experiences, the services the company can offer, about everything! i’m working this way with cassina, haworth, mutina. and with andreu world i’m not doing that but i’m a good friend and they’re accustomed to my opinions and conversations. these conversations are important because they always lead to something new.
in this conversational role, the designer operates in this huge space, to re-think things, to ask more questions, it’s so open ended, so many possibilities. really, at this point the only bad decision is not to try something. and we’re just beginning.
<strong>[DA] stay tuned. [ formafantasma ] (andrea trimarchi and simone farresin) while lecturing at the school of the art institute of chicago was asked if designers are important, is design important. simone said this… the designer and the design is not important in and of themselves. formafantasma’s projects are complete once they leave the studio. it’s rare to know if their projects are a success and are rarely asked to improve what they created. their business model does not involve the relationship you’re experiencing right now.
in contrast simone felt the entrepreneur is more likely to be important. there’s a degree of control over a long period of time whereby something important could evolve.
[PU] “design thinking”, for me a label used too much, has become like a big inclusive net over everything in the world of design. i feel one starts as a specialist in design, like an industrial designer. for those who grow into more systemic integrated spaces the space opens up to expand your reach over the project. the more aspects you touch in sense the more important you are.
we can be a kind of catalyst in between society and ideals for living. we’re not only solving problems, we’re also questioning a lot of problems. i like the idea that this is a new attitude for designers: question and not only solving.
[ coalesse ] expands its longstanding relationship with [ viccarbe ], a valencia-based furniture manufacturer renowned worldwide for contemporary lounge settings, to offer its imports collection throughout the americas. valencia’s abundant sunlight influences and inspires the warmth of the materials. the aesthetics are elegant, proportioned, innovative and timeless. coalesse exclusive north American distributor of this collection for the contract market.
now introducing several exciting new products from the viccarbe imports collection including a modular sofa collection, a high-back luxury chair and a unique table collection that adds fun and diversity to an already impressive group of offerings.
season sofa by piero lissoni is an innovative new modular sofa with a timeless design that was created to adapt to different collaborative spaces. the variety of pieces in the collection allow for infinite compositions which makes it an intuitive solutions for designers. the sofa features a specially designed technical fabric with a protection pad which contributes to its durability and stain resistance.
ace chair by jean-marie massaud is an attractive high back armchair that has tremendous visual lightness and looks wonderful in both commercial and residential settings. available with or without arms, ace features a timeless contemporary design aesthetic paired with extraordinary comfort. the structure is made from calibrated steel and the seat is covered in shape-holding expanded polyurethane foam of different thicknesses with removable upholstery for easy-cleaning. a two-tone upholstery option in leather, fabric or combined is available along with color options of black, green, yellow, red and blue for the zipper in the back.
burin table by patricia urquiola is a collection of sculptural auxiliary tables with a strong personality and unique design. available in two heights and new handle on top, burin is versatile and would be welcome addition to any space.
we’re talking to london designer jasper morrison and the evolution of his chair, 1 inch. we’re in the emeco showroom. some of the questions have been edited for brevity and clarity.
[DesignApplause] jasper, is the new 1 inch collection better or just another?
[jasper morrison] big smile – it’s always better. that’s the goal. to get better. and working with emeco, especially with emeco, where only one product is shown every year…the goal is to look towards the future creating products which are natural descendants of the original.
we looked at emeco’s whole catalogue and tried to find the gap. we found the gap to be a more comfortable, better-looking stacking chair and how could we make this a slightly cheaper price point than the usual emeco chair. we wanted to stick with a square tube to keep the emeco language going, but maybe we could replace the welded seat back with a plastic option. maybe it would sort of enrich it a bit because you have this fantastic recycled material that allows us to work with a new shape, a square tube.
[DA] gregg (buchbinder, ceo) was telling yesterday that 1 inch looked like a very simple solution, but it turned out not to be so simple.
[JM] it was a hell of a lot of work. when you bend a round tube, you can imagine that whatever direction you bend it in, it bends the same. but when you try for curves which are going in different directions with a square tube, it doesn’t like it. it’s very difficult. particularly the top where it can buckle the whole thing. so we had to redraw it many times. the factory would try and do it and each iteration it was bad news again, that the square was not liking to bend that way.
[DA] were you getting worried?
[JM] yes. and then, slowly we got to something better in the last minute and we were able to show prototypes in milan (2017). now we’re working on perfecting them.
[DA] this all sounds very technical and innovative. was there an ‘aha’ moment?
[JM] there were many ‘oh no’ moments. it was much more slow. it went on through the whole year, really. i think we can be fairly sure that there won’t be too many copies. don’t think anybody would have the patience.
[DA] when did this project begin?
[JM] we started before milan 2016. we only had fifteen months. some of that was for the design. we didn’t get the first prototype until after milan last year. but now we have a collection featuring a chair and armchair, stools in three heights, and café and bar tables.
[DA] gregg also made mention that 1 inch represents emeco’s first stab utilizing upholstery. how did that happen?
[JM] emeco is very unctuous of what people ask for. after so many years of aluminum it soon became clear that we needed plastic and wood. now we need upholstery too.
[DA] you’ve made very hard materials look soft with 1 inch. the upholstery makes things even softer and is unusual, i can’t describe the feeling. not sure if it’s foam or air. what is it?
above> 1 inch collection | emeco | 2017
[JM] we’re using the original seat itself and plopping upholstery and foam on top of it. you know very well if you sit on something flat, it’s not very comfortable. you sit on something curved, it gets better. if you add a little bit of upholstery to something curved, it improves again. we use very little upholstery to make it a comfortable chair.
[DA] i wanted to talk a bit about the process as well. does your design process drive the solution or is the problem driving the process?
[JM] with both this project and the previous one shown the year before, we do it really by conversation. with the first chair i’m asking a lot of questions like: how could we make a more affordable emeco chair with the material and supplies they already have. are there limitations, things we can’t do without losing quality while using recycled materials? the 1 inch frames are recycled aluminum and the seats are 100% reclaimed wood polypropylene, sustainable plywood or upholstered.
for me, before i start the design, it’s much easier as a designer to talk your way into a project than to sit down with a piece of paper and then say voila! then give your paper to the manager. i like designing by discussion with the players, the team thing, you know? a project doesn’t happen without the company, structure, and the engineers. usually the result is very different from the one which was drawn from the beginning.
[DA] a good designer needs a good client.
[JM] absolutely.
[DA] how do you interface with the team?
[JM] this project provides an interesting example. one member from our team in london was just at the emeco factory for three days. up till that point no one from our office had a face-to-face with emeco’s factory. we were just wiring 3d drawings back and forth. once we got through the milan thing, we decided they should meet and gregg flew him over. he arrived with all these templates to make it happen and had their first very physical discussion about what shape the chair should be.
[DA] are you computer savvy or are you still a sketcher?
above > alfi shell drawing | emeco | 2015
[JM] i’m still stuck on the 2d program. i pay other people to do the clever bit. i have sent sketches occasionally to start a project, but not usually. i usually do a precise 2d drawing that is the basis for the first 2d digital. after we make a few 2d adjustments we then go 3d and i can then spin it around and check it from every angle. typically i’ll put the old one beside the new one. there’s quite few back and forth making adjustments. but i don’t need to do any more drawings after the first one.
[DA] what’s the prototype stage like?
[JM] the first prototype is quite tiny. the next one we can probably sit on and we begin making functional adjustments. (we’re sitting on prototypes during our chat and jasper says to me…) ‘is the armrest high enough?’ i see you leaning. we’re thinking about raising it up a bit.’
[DA] i am, but maybe it depends on who’s sitting in the chair. the thing is, i’m really interested in what we’re seeing, but i’m not very conscious of the chair. and are you watching everyone who sits in the chair during this prototype stage?
[JM] that’s good about taking the chair itself out of the equation. and yes, by now we have probably twenty other 3d examples of chairs and we know how comfortable each is. like the alfi chair, it’s one of the most comfortable we’ve ever done.
above> alfi | 2015
[DA] let’s switch gears if you don’t mind. what are you thinking about and where are you in this point in time? whether personal or professional? are some things bothering you? tell us a bit about what’s going on up there.
[JM] ok. well i’m beginning to feel a bit senior in the business. it happens. and that’s ok. i’m quite liking it. i have a fairly controlled intake of work. i’m trying not to do too much. i’m really happy working with emeco because of gregg’s paired down vision of what a company needs to be. one product a year. lots of discussion. trying to do things very well and professionally. also his insistence on recycling materials and sustainability and longevity. it feels good. we get on really well.
on another side, i don’t know if you’ve been to my shop in london, but that’s a different kind of thing. it’s very experimental for us because we buy objects from different places and put them in the shop. anybody can come and buy them.
so having the shop has been a learning process and a hobby. we don’t need to make any money with the shop and we don’t really make any money with it. but it gives a lot to the project.
[DA] what do you mean?
[JM] it’s really nice to meet the customers. and the shop setting, it’s an interesting dynamic, we get a lot of feedback that way
[DA] alright, so you have the shop. that’s the experimental thing. anything else?
[JM] i stopped doing any teaching, but i like to do books. tomorrow night i actually have a book thing going on if you’d like to come. i’ve done three books in the last four years. one of them was on my work, one was on my photos and this one i’m launching tomorrow is on the collection of the portuguese ethnology knowledge museum, which is truly amazing. there are so many nice things which were done with nearly no facilities. things made in little villages in portugal. it’s a bit like that book architecture without architects. it’s a kind of product world version of that.
above> transcend by suzanne tick for skyline design
a neocon 2017 runs from 12 to 14 june at the mart in chicago. at-a-glance preview…
3form / 10 – 142
a collaboration between 3form and brooklyn-based designer louis lim of makingworks has resulted in the creation of mobius, exclusively on view at wanted design in new york city in may 2017. now check out the latest at neocon.
andreu world / 10 – 132
invites you to discover our new collections at neocon 2017. we look forward to welcoming you.
save the date: please join us for the andreu world fiesta. this year’s event will feature traditional spanish tapas and wine along with a very special live music performance.
arper / 339
arper presents their 2017 collections at neocon. stop by for a coffee and explore the new products at their chicago showroom.
buzzispace / 10 – 111
at neocon 2017 on both the first and the 10th floor of the merchandise mart, buzzispace will realize its comprehensive approach to design for happy, healthy living, incorporating a range of furniture options, and serious acoustic solutions.
carnegie / 10 – 112 life is colorful with the roy g biv collection! the energetic collection spans the full spectrum with high performance upholstery and digitally printed wide width sheers that celebrate color at its very best.
designtex / 1032A
in business, collaboration is everything—but creating the right balance between openness and privacy is a challenge. casper™ cloaking technology by designtex is an architectural film for glass walls that obscures digital screens to outside view. it acts as a smart shield to ensure data privacy, while providing the peace of mind to collaborate freely in any working environment. this is a breakthrough that will unleash space design in the networked modern world. casper is the only cloaking technology of its kind anywhere. you have to see it to believe it.
hbf / 387 thomas lykke/oeo has collaborated with hbf to create the studio table series.
haworth / 312
come see bluescape and global commercial furnishings leader haworth an innovative new collaboration space at neocon 2017.
humanscale / 351 humanscale and the living product challenge. talking about sustainability is easy. what’s more challenging is creating a net positive impact. especially when it’s being audited and validated by the international living future institute.
herman miller / 321
when bill stumpf and don chadwick designed the original aeron, they combined a deep knowledge of human-centered design with innovative, never-before-seen technology to deliver a chair unlike any other. just as iconic films and albums are updated for new mediums, standards, and audiences, aeron has now been remastered to meet the needs of today’s work, workers, and work environments. by coupling co-designer don chadwick’s vision with herman miller’s latest research around the science of sitting, the new aeron works better than ever before—so you can too.
ki / 1181
join the ruckus at neocon 2017! get a first-hand look at how ki‘s ruckus collection is disrupting the design paradigm. in addition, we’ll be showcasing innovative product solutions developed using the principles of human-centered design.
keilhauer / 373 luno is for reflecting. a visually striking lounge chair that allows you to move, sit and communicate in your own style. design by eoos.
maharam / 1188
maharam design studio decided to develop a substrate: apt introduces a new polymer that combines a silicone face with a polyurethane-and-silicone mid-layer to maharam’s offering of nonwoven upholstery textiles. using a proprietary formulation. apt is the result of five years of research and development.
mohawk / 377
go behind-the-scenes with mohawk group for a sneak preview of the bold and stylish floorcoverings they’ll be showcasing this year. take a peek at our entire lineup.
okamura / 11 – 124 alt piazza is an office furniture of the future that turns office shared space into a place where you can work comfortably.
steelcase / 300 steelcase workplace advisor empowers organizations to measure the effectiveness of the workplace, and improve it based on easy-to-understand, actionable data accessible through an online dashboard.
teknion / 10 -48 around is fully featured, yet clever new new task chair. hidden innovations facilitate a simple chair design with a light, minimalist form. designed by justus kolberg, around is remarkably comfortable, versatile and easy to use.
vitra / 1192 vitra has been developing and producing office chairs for over 40 years. its first model, the vitramat, set new industry standards, and many of its successors have continued to revolutionize workplace seating. to accompany the market launch of the pacific chair, am chair and id chair update, we are introducing the task chair campaign: a new digital tool that provides existing and prospective customers with an inspiring presentation of these chairs.
wilkhahn’s new metrik cantilever chair stands apart for its sculptural shape and contours which bring modern automotive design to mind. polygonal shapes and rounded edges are part of a distinctive body which is defined by form-fit assembly of the tubular steel frame and seat component. design by whiteID.
[ neocon’s 49th edition ] since 1969 neocon continues to serve as the world’s premier platform and most important event of the year for the commercial design industry. below are events with the merchandise mart as well as off-site satellite offerings.
neocon at the merchandise mart | 222 west merchandise mart plaza chicago [ directions ] /
[ show info ] /
monday 12 june 9am > 5pm
tuesday 13 june 9am > 5pm
wednesday 14 june 9am > 3pm
above> introducing montara650 collection by the coalesse design group and lievore altherr molina
coalesse® engages a&d as participants at neocon 2016 / #1032 – a&d community invited to take part in the design process
coalesse, recognized for forward-looking, design-driven products that foster social connection, creative collaboration, and focus and rejuvenation, is inviting the a&d community to participate in the design process through a range of new products and custom capabilities at neocon 2016.
its showroom #1032, will feature expressions of custom capabilities that can be applied through the newly launched potrero415™ tables, massaud conference seating, and the montara650™ collection, among other products, giving a&d professionals the opportunity to discover new ways of personalizing through color and pattern, materials and features, and shape and size to make it their own and enhance emotional engagement at the workplace.
showroom visitors are also invited to participate in the design process through coalesse’s new customizer web app, which demonstrates ways of applying custom color and pattern to the groundbreaking lessthanfive™ chair. the web app and degree of product offerings make customization highly-attainable, empowering clients to be curators of a more meaningful design experience.
below> vitra & artek / #1192 // north american introductions / vitra customized applications
at neocon, vitra will present a series of projects that demonstrate how it has optimized collaboration with client project teams. this provides clients a direct dialogue and unprecedented access to vitra’s top design talent, allowing for the custom-development of new product applications for large scale projects.
below> mohawk group / #377 & 3-121
elevate contemporary spaces to inspired floorscapes through mohawk’s latest production collections. inspired by nature and designed to merge fashion with function.
below> mohawk group / moving floors collection / diagonal relief, fade relief, plane high, plane low, 656 green 24by24
designed to be dynamically moving base on the user’s point of view, moving floors was inspired by the multi-layered beauty of our cultural landscape. empowers designers to create kinetic floorscapes through limitless combinations.
below> haberdasher textiles / by laura guido-clark for herman miller / 3-321
haberdasher is an array of palettes and patterns, inspired by traditional sewing materials—and tailored for projects of various sizes and budgets. giving solids and patterns license to commingle or stand alone, haberdasher gives you license to play. mix. match. curate. collaborate. differentiate. and indulge.
above> there are 5 families each with their own identity. pins and needles: a simple pattern of pins strewn about a canvas becomes iconic in a highly graphic way. / string plaid: the crosshatch pattern creates a colorful, dynamic, and graphic twist on traditional plaid. / well suited: allows vibrant and deep colors to collaborate in a small scale, two-color nailhead pattern. / fish net: the quilted hand offers dimension and explores a large line of intense, warm, and cool colors. / tailored: the tightly woven grid texture creates a subtle surface that reflects light and contours form.
below> hbf & hbf textiles / 387
hbf has returned to its roots, teaming with esteemed designer and longtime partner michael vanderbyl to create introduce conexus, a work/lounge chair designed to function across any contract setting — offices, lobbies, hospitality environments…
designer michael vanderbyl notes, “i strive for timelessness. conexus plays with the shape of a classic lounge chair and transforms it into a more organic form that showcases the exceptional craftsmanship in the woodwork and the upholstery. the wood merges with the upholstery in such a seamless way that the piece takes on a sculptural quality, an engineering feat that hbf executed masterfully.”
below> hbf textiles highlights color, texture, yarn, and hue in spring 2016 collection
known for their artful and authentic approach to design, hbf textiles is going back to the classics for its spring 2016 collection. hbf textiles vice president of design mary jo miller started with le corbusier’s infamous lc palette of colors from the 1920s, and used these fresh shades as a catalyst for the collection.
below> tek pier / teknion / 1048
tek pier “is the first product of its kind to successfully merge wall-mounted monitors with height-adjustable worksurfaces,” said paul kruger, teknion’s director of design, architectural products. tek pier takes advantage of teknion’s altos demountable wall cable routing, structure and acoustic performance. the innovative origami mount allows for fluid positioning to share a large format monitor, maintain viewing privacy, or engage in touchscreen applications.
below> designtex / moquette / 1032a
moquette is a textile mash-up that blends a classic velvet weaving technique with the creative possibilities offered by digital printing technology. the woven structure employs a “moquette” construction produced on a modern wire loom, allowing some areas to be woven as flat bands while elsewhere selected yarns are lifted and then cut to create a short, dense pile. beginning with a simple pattern of alternating horizontal stripes of varying widths, the moquette technique adds complexity by introducing a sense of dimensionality, which is enhanced by the luxurious combination of lustrous and matte yarns. finally, the raised, plush surfaces of the woven fabric are printed digitally with a non-repeating and random color pattern.
the result is an intricate layering of textures and colors that evokes natural landscapes, reflecting biologist e.o. wilson’s concept of biophilia—the theory that human beings are instinctively drawn to the natural world, and thus that design following this principle provides a heightened sensation of comfort and repose. below> parentesit freestanding / by lievore altherr molina for arper / 339
arper extends the functionality of parentesit to include freestanding models for increased privacy and comfort. architectural in scale, these modules carve out a three-dimensional space for concentration or quiet conversation in shared workspaces or collaborative environments.
parentesit was created with a dual inspiration of minimalist art and classic japanese interiors. to shift this approach to an architectural scale, the screen is capable of dividing a room in half, or partitioning off a space for quiet, independent thought.
below> wolf-gordon / & 10 – 161
following dazzling installations of sculptures and interactive digital displays in past years of neocon, wolf-gordon has again transformed the market space in a new way. office_excavate re-envisions the cubicle-enclosed office by creating a colorful, open seating space that can be easily rearranged for meetings, coffee breaks, and recharging of phones and humans alike. the furniture, which can be used alternately as seating, desks, tables, or stools, will be upholstered in over 100 different wolf-gordon textiles. office_excavate is a collaboration of karlssonwilker inc., new motor, graham kelman and wolf-gordon creative direction. below> humanscale / 351
they’re not only previewing a brand new line of diffrient occasional chairs they’re unveiling never-before-seen niels diffrient designs. take a journey through human-centered design innovation and chat with founder and ceo bob king, visionary designer todd bracher and the rest of the humanscale team.
below> carnegie / 10 – 112
reflectacoustic is a groundbreaking design that controls sound and delivers heat and glare reduction through yarn, weaving and metalized backing technology. the textile absorbs and reflects back a great deal of light; all validated through 3rd party testing.
below node with sharesurface / sharesurface was designed by steelcase design studio / steelcase / 300
steelcase health research reveals exam rooms not designed for the modern healthcare experience . findings uncover five ways exam space is failing physicians, patients and family members; informs new design framework and product, node® with sharesurface
node with sharesurface features a rotating sharesurface that provides dynamic access to information, a central part of the exam experience. physicians using mobile technology are able to chart while maintaining eye contact, pivot the surface to share their screen with the patient and family for education and shared decision making, all while having mobility in the room. the chair’s back and arms allow doctors to have more conversational postures during consultation and the rotating surface arm moves out of the way for examination activities.
below> northern parallel / cf stinson / 10-1150
[ collection summary ]
• 7 new textiles, 72 colorways.
• a collection of coordinating textiles that explores the connections between michigan (where stinson is headquartered) and maine (where stinson houses their design studio).
• shared michigan/maine discoveries:
• similar geographic latitudes
• rigorous climate with diverse seasons
• inhabitants with an appreciation for nature and willingness to embrace the seasons
• michigan/maine ideals include work hard, build with integrity and if you are going to be unique – be honest. shared mindset explored through textiles that are hard working, unique, honest and full of integrity.
• made in america, small carbon footprint.
below> the doni collection / designed by giancarlo piretti for ki / 1181
if you can dream it, doni can express it. create with a fresh palette of energizing brights and sophisticated neutrals. imagine the possibilities with two-tone colors and unlimited custom color possibilities. the collection offers guest, task, tandem and stackable configurations.
rooted in david rockwell’s innovative approach to hospitality environments and public space, and inspired by his award-winning design for theater and entertainment, rockwell unscripted is a comprehensive collection of furniture elements that adapt to the spontaneous choreography of the work day.
“our interest is in getting people to look at their work environments as a stage on which movable furniture can be arranged in endless configurations. you can craft the scene around what it is you’re doing that day,” said rockwell group founder and president david rockwell.
below> lievore altherr molina’s arcel for bernhardt design / 399
glass gradients by scholten & baijings add dimensionality to a space by establishing a dialogue between the simplicity of the patterns with their signature color palette.
below> suri pouf / designed by sezgin aksu and silvia suardi for kolekiyon / 11 – 113a
inspired by headgear from the ottoman empire
below> elemental wall systems / 3form / 10 – 142
time + weather = beauty
inspired by the rustic look—created from clean materials
the perfect combination of sitting and standing – a new style of work posture
it is no secret that changing our posture throughout the day is essential to our well-being in the office. what’s more, adapting a posture that is appropriate for the task at hand helps relieve stress placed upon the body. okamura recommends five postures for increased office productivity and efficiency. among them is the perching posture, a perfect combination of standing and sitting.
speckle is a durable and easy to maintain textile ideal for any environment.
speckle comes in four color ways and in each the warp yarn subtly contrasts with the soft pearlescent silver speckles in the weft direction.
chilewich has experimented laying speckle tiles quarter turned and found that the natural color shift between warp and weft adds a richness and level of interest to this quiet weave. speckle is ideal for spaces in which the floor is a foundation for bolder interior design elements. a sustainable solution of bold and neutral patterns.
below> wilkhahn / 7-3082c
wilkhahn’s dynamic office seating utilizes patented 3d technology to encourage health, creativity, and productivity in the workplace.
by special request of the a&d community, will show for the first time at neocon, a white, through-dyed seat shell and backrest frame.
below> arborite high pressure laminates / 7-1018
recognizing the increasingly blurred aesthetic line between contract and residential design, arborite has curated a selection of residential products with crossover appeal to create commercial stones.
above left > cityscape loft’s modern, wet cement look is ideal for urbanites in search of a low-maintenance, industrial-inspired surface. right> industrial loft evokes the glazed look of oxidized metal, combining light and dark shades with a matte texture for a chic, modern effect.
below> amble / by stephan copeland for lightcorp / 7-8062
why is amble different? amble is a light with no moving joints or articulation – in fact, the only moving part is a gravity-powered “eye.” minimalist design meets elite performance in a battery operated dimmagle led task light. created by renowned lighting designer stephan copeland, amble is highly adjustable yet has no moving joints or articulation. amble’s lean, single-form construction enables excellent adjustability and mobility through the intelligence of its shape.
below> nima / by giancarlo piretti for american seating / 10-148
aimed for the higher education market and various contract environments, nima is an inspiring multipurpose collection of chairs, providing exceptional comfort through a sophisticated minimalist aesthetic.
below> stir kinetic desk m1 / 1067a
the new m1 is a height-adjustable desk driven by software that senses your presence, learns your preferences, enables you to set goals and actively reminds you to change positions throughout the day.
DesignApplause will continue to add to this post as well as social shout it during neocon.
asid / floor 1 west pass-thru
the american society of interior designers (asid) is promoting a healthy neocon experience – physically, mentally & socially. at its booth, the association will illustrate how design impacts lives in a creative, engaging way.
best of neocon digital wall / floor 1 north corridor
contract magazine reprises its best of neocon presentation. this competition of over 40 product categories is juried by nearly fifty architects, designers and facilities professionals. this year’s competition has a record-breaking 427 entries.
buzzilounge / floor 1 east pass-thru
buzzilounge offers a place to recharge with a playful pick-me-up at neocon. guest can relax with martin lesjak while taking the buzzibalance for a test drive, a seating solution designed in collaboration with 13&9.
herman miller plaza / floor 1 south lobby
whether just arriving, on the way out the door, or seeking a break from the action, herman miller invites attendees to pause, connect, and revive in its vibrant plaza.
ideapaint thinktank anywhere / floor 1 north lobby escalator
re-imagining how people collaborate through the creation of dry erase paint and accessories. this innovation continues with the neocon-exclusive launch of a new mobile collaboration system. booth at 7-3069.
iida effect/affect // floor 1 starbucks escalator
explores how a designed space evolves as people move through it and leave their mark on the built environment. designed by the san francisco-based, award-winning design firm, studio o+a
mayer fabrics – the vollis simpson collection / floor 1 north corridor
inspired by visionary american folk artist vollis simpson, mayer fabrics’ exclusive new collection of sunbrella® contract captures the whimsy, joy and intricate designs of simpson’s work. the mayer fabrics showroom (1173).
mohawk group – expand your boundaries / floor 1 kinzie wells entrance
explore the “expand your boundaries” theme, with new inspiration, cutting-edge technology and unique product formats. the mohawk group showroom (377).
mohawk group & install – “expand your boundaries” with install / floor 1 north lobby
mohawk group will be activating another space that will invite show-goers to expand their horizons with new installation methods.
new talent spotlight: five designers to watch presented by metropolis magazine in partnership with neocon / floor 1 west pass-thru
metropolis debuts five new talents in a curated installation at neocon 2016. each new talent will display 3 to 5 objects of design, following metropolis’s at-all-scales approach.
snowsound call zones / floor 7 pass-thrus
attendees can enjoy a moment of italian inspired peace and quiet. walls lined with snowsound cubbies in two locations provide private acoustic call zones for attendees. visit snowsound’s main booth (7-4022) for an espresso and introduction to five new design solutions. *snowsound is also providing acoustic panels for seminar rooms: 615 & 1450.
wolf-gordon “office_excavate” / floor 1 center pass-thru
an imaginative rethinking of workplace interactions with office_excavate, an inviting gathering space. over 100 textiles, arranged by color, are upholstered to a grotto-like seating area and to asymmetrical forms. the wolf-gordon showroom (10-161)
[ awards ]
contract magazine’s best of neocon® awards
a 27th year tradition, products are introduced to the market in 42 categories. over 40 jurors comprised of interior designers, architects and facilities management professionals, review close to 350 products before neocon begins. in late may 2016, all products that are entered the best of neocon will be available for viewing on the contract network.
iida/contract magazine showroom & booth design competition
the iida/contract magazine showroom and booth design competition seeks to honor originality of design, visual impact, effective use of materials and the outstanding use of space, color, texture, lighting, and graphics in showrooms and booths at neocon 2016.
interior design hip at neocon awards
the third annual interior design hip at neocon awards honors exceptional people and innovative products. this initiative, unique within the design world, honors commercial industry pioneers and achievement in design solutions and product applications. winners are announced at an exclusive event on sunday, june 12. attendees can visit hip showrooms throughout neocon and celebrate at the hip hip hooray event on tuesday, june 14 from 5 – 7 pm on the south drive of the mart. tickets required and are available at: hiphiphooray2016.splashthat.com #hipawards
#metropolislikes
metropolis editors will select the top designs of neocon 2016. winners will be announced live on metropolismag.com, twitter, and instagram to over 200,000 metropolis followers, and receive a custom award delivered in person at neocon. show-goers can follow #metropolislikes for the list of 2016 winners.
product innovations awards –buildings magazine
celebrating introductions that maximize productivity and sustainability, this awards program covers flooring, seating, lighting, walls and partitions, acoustics, furniture and restrooms.
for showroom/exhibitor news, images and real-time information, follow neocon on the following social media channels: facebook, twitter, instagram, linkedin, pinterest and vine.
for additional product and show information, attendees can visit the new “my planner” feature on neocon’s site. it boasts an online image and video gallery with product descriptions and general company information. those who complete their free profile can schedule appointments and contact each other via the system. my planner can even suggest potential connections based on user interests.
[ special events ]
diffa chicago: gala 2016 – the illumination ball
saturday june 11
6:30p – cocktail reception | 8p – dinner, entertainment, dancing
chicago marriott downtown magnificent mile
tickets: 312.644.6412 or diffachicago.org
iida cool awards gala
sunday june 12
7 – 11p
the ritz carlton hotel
rsvp: aisha williams at awilliams@iida.org
black-tie
2016 best of neocon award winners’ breakfast
monday june 13
7:30a
the renaissance hotel ballroom, one west wacker drive
tickets: www.contract-network.com through 6/6
groupe lacasse 60th anniversary party
monday june 13
4 – 7p
floor 2 suite 226
rsvp: by invitation only
groupe lacasse is celebrating 60 years of inspired design made with passion.
showroom parties
monday june 13
5 – 7p
festivities will be in full swing on monday night. attendees can showroom-hop on floors 1, 3, 10 and 11 and network, experience new products and enjoy food & cocktails.
dear morlen, we look forward to your zona tortona-like vision on south drive
guerrilla truck show @ neocon
tuesday june 14
9a – 7p
south drive
a satellite version of the ultra popular emerging design event produced by morlen sinoway, which ran in chicago’s fulton market for 10 years, will be featured on the south drive of the mart all day on tuesday, june 14. sinoway will curate a selection of 10 up- and-comers showcasing prototype work and objects of design in the back of box trucks.
supported by: gensler, skender construction / event design provided by aiga in collaboration with leo burnett department of design, multiple, ogilvy485, someoddpilot, and trunk club
booth parties
tuesday june 14
3 – 5p
floor 7
attendees should not miss the cocktails, conversations and contacts that will be offered in the 7th floor exhibit hall.
interior design’s hip hip hooray celebration
tuesday june 14
5 – 7p
south drive
$35 online (hiphiphooray2016.splashthat.com) or $40 at the door.
the guerrilla truck show will also be a highlight of the tuesday night hip hip hooray celebration.
association event – vinyl in design: solutions in healthcare
wednesday june 15
8 – 9a
holiday inn chicago mart plaza – 14th floor western stage house
rsvp: 216-241-7333 or cffa@chemicalfabricsandfilm.com
this association event is an outreach and education program presented by the vinyl institute to familiarize architects and designers with the wide range of design solutions vinyl products can provide in today’s healthcare environments. attendees will earn .1 ceu credit through idcec upon completion.
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