Inside First NeoCon: Young Designers Take On The Show

For young designers, seeing product in person and connecting with industry leaders is paramount for growing their careers. What better place to do this than NeoCon, the massive commercial design show held at The Mart in Chicago June 9-11, 2025. Hosted by Interior Design, Metropolis, and The Mart, a group of 30 designers across the country experienced an action-packed few days, starting with the HiP Awards Sunday evening.

From showroom crawls, to happy hours, and intimate design talks, the group soaked up as much design knowledge as possible—with time to recharge, too. Tuesday morning, the First NeoCon crew was treated to a meditative sound bath at Momentum Textiles and Wallcovering. Healing vibrations washed over the designers as they stretched out on yoga mats, wrapped in blankets and eye pillows. “How would you like to experience your day today?” the facilitator offered, closing the session with a moment of meditation. “Think of this as a love letter to yourself.”

The same sentiment holds true for the First NeoCon program, which serves as a love letter to design—and the next generation of leaders. “So far, it’s been great to experience the showrooms and see how brands are creating their own environments,” said Brenea Palmer, a designer at Huntsman Architectural Group. “It’s amazing being here,” shared Vy Dang, a designer with Ankrom Moisan.

For the First NeoCon group, connecting with industry leaders and brands is as important as connecting with each other. “It’s been so great to get the perspective of people my age who live in different cities because we don’t get that a lot,” shared Adam Demien, a designer at HOK’s Los Angeles office as he enjoyed breakfast with colleagues.

Building community while seeing all the show has to offer is at the heart of the program, but the real magic happens long after NeoCon as designers put their learnings to use, creating lasting relationships and solution-driven spaces.

A big thank you to our First NeoCon partners: Arktura, Shaw Contract, Material Bank, Momentum Textiles & Wallcovering, Source International, Formica, Ghent, AHF Products, Artistic Tile, KI, Turf, OM Seating, Bernhardt Design and Porcelanosa.