June 8, 2026

Words: Carlene Olsen

Photography: Mary Clare Glabowicz

Inside Interior Design’s 13th HiP Awards Ceremony

“Lucky number 13!” Interior Design Editor-in-Chief Cindy Allen said, opening the 13th annual HiP Awards ceremony, which honors top products and people in commercial design. Hosted at The Mart in Chicago June 7, more than 300 designers, manufacturers, and creatives—including 30 First NeoCon attendees—filled the steps at Marshall’s Landing for the celebratory evening. “It’s about the product but it’s really, for me, about the people who make this industry and come together for NeoCon. We love you so much,” she continued.

And come together designers and manufacturers did, kicking off the festivities with a pre-HiP Awards cocktail reception in The Mart’s lobby among innovative designs by Hawoth DesignLab x Paved States. Part gallery, part exhibition and retail space, the design-forward locale invited lively conversation as attendees connected over cocktails before settling in for the awards.

A round wooden table with multiple orange and red acrylic awards shaped like the letters "HIP" arranged on top.
2026 HiP Awards trophies designed by 3form.

Honoring Top Products And People In Commercial Design

As Allen took to the stage, she shared that this year’s HiP Awards saw a record-breaking number of submissions—nearly 500—ensuring 2026 winners and honorees are true standouts. From a winding outdoor seat by Sandler, which won for Outdoor Products, to a sinuous sofa by Allermuir, which took home a HiP Award for Hospitality Lounge Seating, 2026 winners showcase the industry’s immense range of creativity and innovation.

Not to mention, the hippest of the hip—Interior Design‘s HiP People winners, honoring industry luminaries. Think: HiP Designer for Greater Good winner, Michael Ford, bringing architecture to new generations as founder of BrandNu Design Studio and Hip Hop By Design, and rising stars, like Healthcare Rising Star Wei Cai, a designer at Perkins&Will who views design as a way to shape human behavior. As for the Lifetime of Hipness Award, honors go to manufacturer Lynn Kingdon, creative director for Camira Group, who shines with her artistic vision, commercial insight, and sustainability leadership.

The positive vibes continued throughout the evening as attendees cheered for winners and honorees, marking yet another successful celebration of groundbreaking design—and start to NeoCon. “Go forth and design,” Allen said, closing the ceremony.

See Event Highlights From Interior Design’s HiP Awards

  • Two men in business attire hold up drinks and smile at an indoor event, one wearing a suit and the other a beige blazer with a blue flower pin.
  • Three people stand together at an indoor event, each wearing name badges and holding drinks, with other attendees and tall windows visible in the background.
  • Three people wearing event badges pose together at an indoor reception, holding drinks, with other attendees visible in the background.
  • Two people stand closely together at an indoor event, both smiling at the camera; the man holds a drink, and the room is filled with other attendees in the background.
  • A man in a red patterned blazer and a woman in a black dress with sequin details stand together at a crowded indoor event, both holding drinks.
  • Three women pose together at an indoor event, wearing black outfits and name badges. Other people are visible in the background.
  • Three women stand together and smile at an indoor event, each wearing name badges and conference lanyards, with other attendees visible in the background.
  • Three women stand together indoors at an event, smiling at the camera and wearing NeoCon badges around their necks. Other attendees are visible in the background.
  • Three people stand together indoors at a social event, holding drinks and looking at the camera, with other attendees in the background.
  • Two women pose and smile at the HiP Interior Design event, both wearing NeoCon badges, with a large event sign in the background.
  • A crowd gathers at an indoor event with a large screen displaying "HiP: Honoring Industry People & Product" by Interior Design magazine.
  • A large audience sits on tiered seating in a modern indoor venue, attentively watching an event or presentation.
  • A person speaks enthusiastically at a podium labeled "HiP" and "Interior Design," with an audience watching in a brightly lit event space.
  • Three people pose and smile for a photo at an indoor event, with others socializing in the background near tables and a bright screen displaying text.
  • Two men stand indoors, each holding a beverage can, with a bar and a screen displaying "HiP" in the background.
  • Two people stand close together holding drinks with lime wedges at a social event, with other attendees mingling in the background.
  • A large group of people wearing name badges are seated on tiered steps indoors, attending what appears to be a conference or event.
  • Two people with conference badges sit on steps among a crowd; the man in front is resting his chin on his hand, and the woman behind him is smiling at the camera.
  • Three women sitting close together, smiling at the camera in a crowded indoor event with people seated around them.
  • A group of people sit closely together at an indoor event; a man in front raises his arms and shouts excitedly, wearing a NeoCon badge around his neck.
  • A group of people sit closely together on indoor steps, smiling at the camera and wearing badges on lanyards.
  • Two women sit on steps at an event, smiling at the camera. One woman holds a drink and wears a red lanyard that says "NeoCon." Other people are visible in the background.
  • A man and a woman smiling and sitting close together in a crowd, both wearing event badges around their necks.
  • Two women sitting together, smiling at the camera; one is holding a red "HPD" award and waving, both appear happy and casually dressed.
  • Two men in formal attire sit on stairs holding "HiP" award plaques and smiling at the camera.
  • A woman wearing red glasses and a colorful scarf holds a translucent red award shaped like the letter "P" beside her head.
  • A woman smiles and raises an orange "HiP" sign at an indoor event, with a colorful textile image projected on the wall behind her.
  • A person smiling and holding up a red "HIP" sign, with colorful artwork and event displays in the background.
  • A person wearing a black shirt and cap smiles at the camera, holding up a red "HiD" sign and waving, with people seated in the background.
  • Two people sit smiling at an event, wearing red lanyards. The man holds a large "HIP" sign. A crowd is visible in the background.
  • A group of people sitting on stairs, smiling and cheering; one man in a suit holds a red "HPP" cutout.
  • A person with curly blonde hair smiles while holding a red award shaped like the letters "HP" in front of a red-lit background.
  • A woman with long blond hair smiles energetically while holding up a large red "HIP" sign in a brightly lit indoor space with red lighting.
  • A man in a black t-shirt and cap holds an HP-shaped award in a modern, well-lit venue with people in the background and design projections on the wall.
  • Two people sitting on stairs, smiling and holding up large red "HP" cutout signs at an indoor event with others in the background.
  • Three people in a crowd hold up large cut-out letters spelling "HiP" and smile toward the camera.
  • Two people smiling and holding up red and silver "HIP" signs at an indoor event.
  • Two people smiling and holding large "HiP" award plaques while posing for a photo against a light-colored wall.
  • Smiling woman with short blonde hair and white glasses holds a pink award shaped like the word "HiP" in front of a beige wall.
  • Three people wearing NeoCon badges pose together indoors; one holds a red "HiP" award and smiles at the camera.
  • Four people stand smiling in front of a pink backdrop. Two are holding “HiP” awards. All wear event lanyards.
  • Two women stand in front of a red, patterned background, each holding large cutout letters spelling "HIP" and smiling at the camera.
  • Two women stand in front of a red backdrop, smiling and holding metallic "HPD" signs toward the camera.
  • Two people smile and pose in front of a pink background, holding up a cutout sign that reads "HIP." The person in front wears glasses and multiple bangles.
  • Two women smiling and holding HPD-shaped awards in front of a pink, patterned background.
  • Three people smiling and holding red "HP" awards while standing in front of a red, circular-patterned backdrop.
  • Two women stand in front of a pink backdrop, each holding a red "HIP" award and smiling at the camera.
  • Two women stand in front of a red backdrop, smiling and holding "HiP" award trophies toward the camera.
  • Two people stand in front of a red background, each holding a transparent award with "HIP" written on it. The person on the left is wearing glasses and a black outfit; the person on the right wears a light suit.
  • Two people wearing glasses smile and hold red "HIP" awards in front of a pink, patterned background.
  • A group of eight people stand together indoors, smiling and holding red "HIP" signs in front of a pink backdrop.
  • A group of people pose together indoors, smiling and holding large red "HIP" signs at an event in front of a pink and red backdrop.
  • Three people pose in front of a pink backdrop, each holding a red sign with the word "HIP" cut out. They are smiling and appear to be at an event.
  • Three people stand in front of a pink backdrop, each holding an award shaped like the letters "HIP" and smiling at the camera.
  • Three people stand in front of a red patterned wall, smiling and holding large "HIP" signs; one person is tossing the sign in the air.
  • Six people pose together indoors, holding "HiP" awards in front of a pink backdrop with a "HiP" logo. Everyone is smiling and dressed in formal attire.
  • Two people stand in front of a red backdrop, smiling and holding translucent awards shaped with the word "HiP.
  • Two people smiling and holding large red "HIP" awards in front of a red background with circular patterns.
  • Four people stand in front of a pink backdrop, two holding large "HP" letter props and one giving a thumbs up, all smiling at the camera.
  • Two women stand in front of a pink backdrop, smiling and holding up “HIP” shaped awards toward the camera.
  • Two people stand in front of a pink patterned wall, each holding a “HiP” award and smiling at the camera.
  • Three people, two adults and one child, smile and hold large, stylized “Hip” signs in front of a pink backdrop with circular patterns.
  • Two people stand together in front of a red patterned wall; one holds a large metallic key-shaped object and both are smiling.

The HiP Awards ceremony also was live-streamed on DESIGNTV by Sandow. In case you missed it, be sure to check out the replay on DESIGNTV by SANDOW, and stop by Interior Design‘s DesignScene lounge at The Mart during NeoCon 2026.

A very special thank you to our 2026 HiP Awards Gold partners: 3form, creator of this year’s HiP Awards trophies, as well as Haworth, reception partner, and AHF, Allsteel, Andreu World, Armstrong World Industries, Bitreel, C.F. Stinson, Calma, Crypton, Darran, Davis Furniture, Loll, J+J Flooring, Keilhauer, KI, Kimball International, Mannington, Material Bank, Mohawk, Okamura, Patcraft, Shaw Contract, Takeform, The Mart, Tuohy, and Turf.

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