What You’ll See at NeoCon 2022

Photo: NeoCon.

Each year at NeoCon, thousands gather together at theMART in Chicago to connect, learn, and share the latest innovations in design for workplace, healthcare, hospitality, retail, education, public space, and government. This year’s edition will run June 13-15, 2022, and, in addition to showcasing cutting-edge new product launches from hundreds of established and emerging brands, the event will offer an engaging lineup of compelling on-site, and virtual programming.

Leading the charge, the 2022 keynote speakers include internationally renowned artist Nick Cave alongside founder, principal, and creative director for art and design studio Faust, Bob Faust; designer, artist, and educator Bruce Mau; and design futurist and educator, Shashi Caan.

Each day of the show will feature additional on-site presentations, including a talk led by Todd Heiser and Lily Diego of Gensler Chicago offering an insider look into the upcoming MART 2.0 renovation project, as well as additional programming from industry experts including Royce Epstein (Mohawk Group), Karen McCallum (CBRE Design Collective), the 2020-22 Designing a Better Chicago Grant Winners, and Tanner Woodford (Design Museum of Chicago), to name a few.

Here are a few other highlights that you will see at the show.

Mohawk Group will launch two collections in collaborations with ArtLifting: Painted Perspectives and Social Canvas. As part of the company’s Better Together initiative, Mohawk Grouop is partnering with ArtLifting to champion artists who are impacted by housing insecurity or disabilities. ArtLifting provides a platform and creates opportunities for these underrepresented artists to amplify their voices and participate in the contemporary art market.

“My goal is to make their invisible talents visible and by doing so, change stereotypes. Instead of defining people by their circumstance, we should define them by their talent,” said ArtLifting’s co-founder and CEO Liz Powers.
Spartan Surfaces is ringing in its fifth year hosting its annual open house: Monday, June 13 and Tuesday, June 14from 11:00am – 5:00pm. They are inviting guests to “Escape The Mart” and pamper yourself with spa services, sips and made to order food while exploring new products from Kahrs Upofloor and American Biltrite.
KAHRS UPOFLOOR at Spartan Surface hosts the Sips & Mobile Showroom. Guests are invited daily 11am – 5pm for drinks and a seated lunch on Pink Taco’s outdoor patio.
Spa and Color Forcasting with American Biltrite. Enjoy food and drink from 11am – 5pm daily while exploring the latest products from American Biltrite. Join in on a 30-minute color forecasting session to drive future innovation, and reserve ahead a 30-minute no chip manicure or paraffin wax pedicure.

Tanja Kern is the associate publisher and editorial director of FLOOR Trends & Installation. She is also the host of the FLOORtalk podcast, where she explores the changes and challenges facing the flooring community's thought leaders and creatives. Tanja has been writing about business, design, and lifestyle for two decades, and her work has appeared in publications such as American Way, Better Homes & Gardens, Fine Interiors, Fodor's, Food Channel, CA Modern, Chicago, Fine Interiors, and Los Angeles.