Tap Into Childlike Wonder In Our Immersive NeoCon Lounge

Play. Create. Make. These words inform the experiential nature of this year’s DesignScene lounge at NeoCon, hosted by SANDOW Design Group. Located on the 11th floor of The Mart in Chicago throughout the show, which runs June 9-11, 2025, the space offers visitors a moment to connect—with each other and their own sense of discovery.

Created in partnership with Ryan Smith, chief creative officer of 3form companies and founder of LightArt, the lounge offers a welcome departure from NeoCon’s bustling halls, inviting guests to recharge in Interior Design‘s orange-hued oasis awash in a warm glow. (Metropolis‘s Sustainability Lab also makes its return, occupying half of the DesignScene lounge with its signature green palette).

Behind The Design of SANDOW Design Group’s DesignScene Lounge

“Expanding on last year’s theme of play, we proudly present LightPlay in collaboration with my friends at LightArt,” shares Interior Design Editor-in-Chief Cindy Allen who collaborated with Smith, and his team, on the DesignScene concept for the fourth year in a row. “This time we invite everyone to interact—and really play—in the space. There are mini sculptures a-la-building-blocks that you can touch, move around and snap together (so fun!). Then in full scale you’ll be wowed by the sculptural lighting installation—inspired by Noguchi’s paper lamps— all aglow! Ultimately, it encourages play and reminds us that every big idea starts small!”

Visitors also will have an opportunity to interact with LightArt’s upcoming collection, which will be unveiled later this year. “On one of our first calls with Cindy, I said ‘I need to show you what we’re working on,'” shares Smith, referencing his team’s fresh take on stackable, 3D-printed lamp shades. Allen, of course, loved it. “We thought: What if we brought a whole bunch of shapes to the show and people could do what we’re doing here [in the studio],” he adds, noting that the ability to play is integral to the design process.

Illuminated by more than 300 full sized lamps, plus countless miniature models, and grounded by a rich carpet courtesy of Bentley Mills, Interior Design‘s DesignScene space offers a touch of retro flair. “With the lighting, there’s more of a ’60s vibe to it,” Smith adds. The best part? The space will be in flux throughout the show as visitors make and display their own creations using the stackable shades, which are held together by magnets. “We think about these shapes as a design language,” he continues, noting the overall concept embodies the words painted on the wall: Play. Create. Make.

Stop By DesignScene at The Mart on Floor 11 During NeoCon 2025

A special thank you to Interior Design‘s DesignScene partners: Behr, Bentley Mills, 3form, LightArt, and Momentum Textiles & Wallcovering.