Chicago, Ill. -- What does the office of the future look like? An insider look can be found at commercial interiors show NeoCon, to be held at The Mart in Chicago, Ill., June 11-13. For half a century, the annual event has served as a launchpad for innovations that have influenced how we live and work. In honor of the milestone, NeoCon has produced a retrospective highlighting major movements, milestones and products launched over the event's five decades.
When NeoCon started back in 1969, the U.S. office furniture industry was roughly $830 million. In 2017, it was estimated at $13.4 billion. NeoCon launched at a crucial point in commercial design history. By the late '60s office-centric design had arrived, and with it, an obvious need for industry standards and uniformity. The event shined a light on these issues and spawned professional associations, such as American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA), that continue to help regulate, promote, and support contract furniture and the interior design community.