The Future of Design Has Arrived—and It’s Surprisingly Playful

 Mat Gurda

 Katie Walsh

 Bethany Ohanele

Estimated Read Time: 3 Minutes

NeoCon 2025 showed up big, bold, and full of surprises – proving that workspaces and public environments are shedding their stoic shells in favor of creativity, inclusivity, and adaptability. Our team scouted the showrooms and design labs of Chicago to catch what's emerging, and what's next. Here are the trends you can't unsee (and won't want to).

Getting Crafty: Play is the New Productivity

This year's breakout vibe? Adults rediscovering their inner 8-year-old – in the best way possible. Design brands leaned all the way into interactivity, showcasing installations that invited attendees to build, experiment, and play.

From Pallas/KI's whimsical Dream Tree and seed-infused pencils/paper, to TURF's felt flower-making kits and Momentum's workspace fantasy-inspired Idyl Wild, the floor buzzed with tactile creativity. IKEA's "How Do You Rebel?" room transformed into a collective activity playground, while they served rebellious Meatball "Tacos" with potato pancake shell and gravy/lingonberry salsas from the IKEA food truck. Delish! LightArt's 3D-printed light labs made tech feel downright magical, encouraging guests to construct unique combinations of lighting in real-time, while a 3D printer whirred away in the corner. This wasn't about gimmicks; it was about the joy of creating, and how that can inspire better collaboration, exploration, and memory-making.

Sensory-Rich & Neuro-Inclusive: Designing for Every Brain

One of the most meaningful shifts? A major focus on neuro-aesthetics and inclusivity. Brands are finally prioritizing the many ways people experience space and stress.

Momentum's audio scratch-and-sniff tour (yes, really…the pond water smell definitely required a palette cleanse), Mohawk Group's emotionally calibrated walkthroughs, and TURF's "Choose Your Own Sound Adventure" immersed visitors in a full-spectrum, multisensory journey. Think calming visuals, intentional lighting, nature-inspired fractal patterns, and acoustics designed to soothe—not overstimulate. This was a welcome break from the energy, soundtrack, and business of most showrooms. ARKTURA's light-shifting metal panels and KI Wall's Certified Autism Resource designation proved that good design isn't just beautiful—it's mindful.

Design Without Boundaries: Spaces that Morph to Meet the Moment

Gone are the days of one-function rooms. Today's environments are fluid, modular, and built for real life. Whether it's a café-meets-conference-zone or a lounge-turned-learning-lab, brands are thinking outside the floor plan.

Furniture from SitOnIt (who definitely takes our Gold Prize for "Best Happy Hour" with a special live performance by Diplo), Enwork, and Hightower embraced hybrid usage, while modular masterpieces like Extremis' Panigiri outdoor table delivered on both form and function. These pieces aren’t just flexible—they’re future proof.

Adaptive Resilience: Built for Tomorrow's Unknowns

With climate anxiety and social change top of mind, designers are doubling down on durable, circular materials and solutions that last. This year's mantra? Design for change.

Okamura's adaptive showroom (what better way to show attention to detail and engineering than an immersive Japanese whisky tasting), loll's outdoor furniture with fully replaceable poly components, and iSiMAR's Habana line proved that style and sustainability can co-exist. EMECO's legacy of resilient, recycled furniture remains a gold standard.

Material & Technology: When Science Meets Soul

New-age materials are doing the heavy lifting—combining sustainability with high performance and sleek aesthetics. Many showrooms leaned into nature-inspired design, bringing the outdoors in with muted earth tones, botanical patterns, organic forms, and sustainable materials creating calm, grounded spaces. Highlights included Buzzispace's BuzziReform Brut, mycelium-based acoustic panels and BuzziBlox, acoustic panels utilizing denim scraps, Kriskadecor's shape-shifting chain acoustics, and Lutron's sculptural curtain blinds, all testaments to how everyday materials can be reimagined for impact.

Bottom line? NeoCon didn't just forecast trends – it gave us a taste of a world where design is interactive, inclusive, and resilient. From squishy puzzles to programmable panels, it's clear: the future of space isn't fixed. It's flexible, fun, and designed for all of us.