What were the major trends from NeoCon 2025? Held yearly at Chicago’s iconic Merchandise Mart, now called THE MART, this year’s show once again hosted the commercial design world with the theme, “Design Ahead.” The theme reflected the growing urgency to shape spaces that respond to emotional well-being, environmental responsibility, and the evolving ways we live and work. From inclusive seating and circular materials to modular furnishings and expressive color palettes, the show demonstrated how design continues to bridge the gap between function, flexibility, and feeling.

Below are the major trends we identified at this year’s NeoCon.

Trend One: Emotionally Intelligent & Inclusive Design

Designers now prioritize spaces that engage the senses and support wellness for all users. This approach draws on biophilic design principles to reduce stress and create a sense of belonging. Whether it’s an office or hospital, elements like natural touches, varied textures, ambient lighting, and quiet zones work to accommodate different working styles and promote comfort. Several exhibitors introduced products meant to balance comfort, mental support, and aesthetic sensitivity.

Viccarbe’s Noha Chair is a lounge chair reminiscent of a pillow for optimal comfort and practicality.

With Silen’s Zen Pod, users can find privacy and silence in phone booth-like spaces. With features like dimmable ambient lighting, switchable smart glass for privacy, and immersive soundscapes, every pod offers a sensory break from busy environments.

The Central Bark Credenze from DARRAN integrates a soft, cleanable pet bed and warm LED lighting and storage.

Trend Two: Mobility, Modularity & Multi-Use Spaces

As the lines blur between the office, classroom, hotel, and even retail, designers are embracing flexible, multi-purpose layouts that serve different functions. A lobby might double as a co-working lounge by day and event space by night; a waiting area might morph into a community hub. This trend is all about mobility and user autonomy.

Easy reconfiguration is key — furniture on casters, fold-away elements, and plug-and-play modular components empower users to adapt spaces on the fly. The goal is to maximize utility and experience: today’s environments must be ready to support focused work, collaboration, learning, or socialization at a moment’s notice. The NeoCon show floor was filled with innovations supporting this new level of adaptability.

From Watson Furniture, Allé Desking is a desk and table system designed for quick and simple reconfigurations.

The Omnio Office from Visplay similarly offers a hybrid solution with modular structures that double as display shelving and workstations.

Trend Three: Sustainable Materials and Circular Design

A major NeoCon 2025 theme was the industry’s move toward environmentally-friendly design, including circular design, low-carbon materials, and transparency in sourcing. Manufacturers are answering with creative uses of recycled content, bio-based materials, and products designed for end-of-life reuse; studies show sustainable products can boost revenues and appeal to both employees and clients. NeoCon’s Green Zone was filled with proof that eco-consciousness has matured into fashionable design, and the “ReWritten” pop-up at the show featured curated, refinished furnishings.

Haworth’s Closed-Loop Fern Chair is an ergonomic chair made with recycled plastic from old chairs to achieve a closed loop in the manufacturing process.

Polygood panels from the Good Plastic Company are made entirely from recycled post-consumer and industrial plastic.

Mayer Fabrics’ Hyphyn Upholstery looks and wears like conventional vinyl but can break down in landfill conditions.

Trend Four: Smart Technology Integration

It’s no surprise that technology is now interwoven into commercial environments. Embedded sensors, increased connectivity, and responsive features enhance user experience and operational efficiency. From IoT-enabled furniture that tracks space utilization to app-connected amenities that personalize environments, tech integration shows up in every commercial design.

The Nura Space Platform from Schiavello uses a smart sensor network to track desk usage, meeting room occupancy, and traffic flow.

For a new type of collaborative work surface, the Lynk Smart Glassboard from Clarus turns a sleek glass writing board into a multi-touch screen that integrates with videoconferencing and apps.

NeoCon 2025: Final Takeaways on Sustainable, Flexible and Inclusive Design 

From wellness-forward and flexible layouts to green materials, smart tech, and durable and healthy designs, the top trends at NeoCon 2025 all reflect a human-centered and future-forward mindset. This illustrates an adaptable, inclusive, sustainable, and resilient design approach. Together, these trends depict a future where our workplaces, schools, hotels, and healthcare spaces are better equipped to support people — and the planet — wherever needed.

If you attended NeoCon this year, what were the NeoCon 2025 trends you experienced?

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