Brazo by Haworthwww.haworth.com LED source Recyclable milled-aluminum body User can adjust light spill and spread Adjustable height and arm Freestanding or deskmounted Designed by Pablo Pardo
Brazo by Haworthwww.haworth.com LED source Recyclable milled-aluminum body User can adjust light spill and spread Adjustable height and arm Freestanding or deskmounted Designed by Pablo Pardo

NeoCon took over the Merchandise Mart in Chicago for three days in early June this year. So big it has its own zip code, the Mart was filled to capacity with new furniture, fabric, carpet, wall coverings, flooring, and more. Couldn't make it? Here's the show in a nutshell.

Numbers

Attendance rose from 50,500 in 2006 to 52,600 this year, making it the most populous NeoCon to date.

Keynote

Zaha Hadid, scheduled to appear as the IIDA keynote speaker, canceled at the last minute, leaving a full auditorium with a scratchy and oft-interrupted satellite phone interview.

Lighting

For the first time ever, a lighting product (Haworth's Brazo, above) won the Best of NeoCon Best of Competition Award from Contract magazine.

Glamour Factor

Word on the street was that things were more subdued this year, with fewer flashy new product releases. Could the residential downturn be reining some companies in?

Exhibitors

More than 1,200 companies exhibited on the show floors at the Mart, in spaces ranging from small temporary booths to newly redone, 20,000-square-foot permanent showrooms.

Education

Registration for continuing education seminars was up 46 percent from last year, and attendees had 123 courses to choose from.

Getting Around

More people means more congestion at an already gridlocked Mart, and this year even the stairs were jammed. Next year might require a new strategy. Antigravity boots?

Studio IQ by Carnegiewww.carnegiefabrics.com Textile wallcovering Uses no vinyl, chlorine, plasticizers, heavy metals, formaldehyde, or dioxin Uses water-based ink and coatings Available in eight designs More than 50 standard colorways
Studio IQ by Carnegiewww.carnegiefabrics.com Textile wallcovering Uses no vinyl, chlorine, plasticizers, heavy metals, formaldehyde, or dioxin Uses water-based ink and coatings Available in eight designs More than 50 standard colorways
Color Blox Too by Crossville Tilewww.crossvilleinc.com Complements existing Color Blox and Color Blox Mosaic collections Eight solid and eight striped colorways Both solids and stripes available in three sizes Can be used for floor, wall, or countertop applications
Color Blox Too by Crossville Tilewww.crossvilleinc.com Complements existing Color Blox and Color Blox Mosaic collections Eight solid and eight striped colorways Both solids and stripes available in three sizes Can be used for floor, wall, or countertop applications
Adept by Allsteelwww.allsteeloffice.com Return and wing-wall dividers, desking, storage, and supports Thin profiles and varied heights Integrates with all existing Allsteel systems "Quick" connection points promise fast installation and reconfiguration
Adept by Allsteelwww.allsteeloffice.com Return and wing-wall dividers, desking, storage, and supports Thin profiles and varied heights Integrates with all existing Allsteel systems "Quick" connection points promise fast installation and reconfiguration
Spirit of the Place by Lees Carpetswww.leescarpets.com Modular carpet tile Four patterns inspired by different cities Each pattern available in 12 colors Varied texture on each tile ranging from looped pile to full tipshear "Encycle" backing Designed with BMW Group DesignworksUSA
Spirit of the Place by Lees Carpetswww.leescarpets.com Modular carpet tile Four patterns inspired by different cities Each pattern available in 12 colors Varied texture on each tile ranging from looped pile to full tipshear "Encycle" backing Designed with BMW Group DesignworksUSA
Amia chair by Steelcasewww.steelcase.com "Alive" seating technology allows more movement and control Flexors in the back move with the user Uses 30 percent recycled content and is 98 percent recyclable Designed by IDEO
Amia chair by Steelcasewww.steelcase.com "Alive" seating technology allows more movement and control Flexors in the back move with the user Uses 30 percent recycled content and is 98 percent recyclable Designed by IDEO
Rottet by Decca Executive Table Desk by Decca Contractwww.deccacontract.com Quarter-cut wood veneer top Data cable storage in both legs Storage drawer on one side Internal steel support structure Angle of edge creates illusion of thinness Available in various veneer colors and finishes Designed by Lauren Rottet
Rottet by Decca Executive Table Desk by Decca Contractwww.deccacontract.com Quarter-cut wood veneer top Data cable storage in both legs Storage drawer on one side Internal steel support structure Angle of edge creates illusion of thinness Available in various veneer colors and finishes Designed by Lauren Rottet
C2 Climate Control by Herman Millerwww.hermanmiller.com Heating and cooling device for individual workstations Plugs into standard 110- volt outlet Uses only 1.5 amps AC current Contains Greenguard-certified air filtration system No exposed heating coils
C2 Climate Control by Herman Millerwww.hermanmiller.com Heating and cooling device for individual workstations Plugs into standard 110- volt outlet Uses only 1.5 amps AC current Contains Greenguard-certified air filtration system No exposed heating coils
Ice by Joel Berman Glass Studioswww.jbermanglass.com Available in sheets in varied sizes and thicknesses Angular design is an abstraction of ice crystals Can be used for a variety of indoor and outdoor applications
Ice by Joel Berman Glass Studioswww.jbermanglass.com Available in sheets in varied sizes and thicknesses Angular design is an abstraction of ice crystals Can be used for a variety of indoor and outdoor applications
Tryk by Tricyclewww.tricycleinc.com A new type of samplesimulation technology No longer just for floor covering, can now be used to create 3-D renderings of fabric, wall covering, floor covering, and other interior surfaces Can be used to simulate room environments on websites and in project models
Tryk by Tricyclewww.tricycleinc.com A new type of samplesimulation technology No longer just for floor covering, can now be used to create 3-D renderings of fabric, wall covering, floor covering, and other interior surfaces Can be used to simulate room environments on websites and in project models
Akira table by Vectawww.vecta.com Flip-top nesting tables Stack compactly with as little as 6 inches between tables Height-adjustable Power and data access options and modesty panels are available
Akira table by Vectawww.vecta.com Flip-top nesting tables Stack compactly with as little as 6 inches between tables Height-adjustable Power and data access options and modesty panels are available