NeoCon 2023 Trends: Lighting the Way to a Better Workspace

NeoCon Trends 2023 Stylex Seating Luna Lounge Seating

NeoCon has been setting the tone for commercial office furniture trends since 1990, and lighting the way for revolutionary designs of the commercial industry as a whole. Every year, NeoCon hosts more than 40,000 attendees and 400 companies to exhibit their latest furniture solutions, as well as keynotes, special events, and workshops for entrepreneurs and design professionals to connect and educate each other.  And this year is no exception.  With the best and brightest minds brought together, what are the NeoCon 2023 trends that we saw last month in June?

One thing’s for certain: the pandemic has heavily impacted the way we see the workplace, and the design industry has been significantly changed.

Trend 1: Sustainability

Sustainability is a rising concern in production. Consumers are increasingly aware of where their products come from, and it’s become one of the main factors they consider when buying furniture. This makes “green” furniture attractive to manufacturers from an ideological perspective. But not only that – sustainable furniture reduces carbon footprint, lengthens the lifespan of the product, and creates a circular economy that utilizes recycling and repurposing.

NeoCon Trends 2023 Via Seating Vooom Chair
Photo: Via Seating Vooom Chair

Via Seating’s Vooom chair won the Sustainability Award with their sustainable seating solution. Vooom has a distinctive wing arm design and is made up of 60% recycled PET bottles in its chair shell and is 100% recyclable.

Trend 2: Wellness

Wellness goes hand-in-hand with sustainability. The world today is fast-paced and full of uncertainties, leaving many stressed and stretched thin. As a result, designers are now leaning into the human aspect of care to facilitate relaxation and gain balance.  More and more, furniture these days are made with the environment and the people who use them in mind. No longer are workers expected to act like drones; designers are responding to changing needs in workspaces for people by using natural materials to enhance wellbeing. Materials like wood and soft, soothing colors create a sense of warmth and comfort and ties into other trends like sustainability and biophilia.

NeoCon Trends 2023 Darran Dove Lounge Seating
Photo: DARRAN Dove Guest, Lounge & Rocking Chairs

DARRAN’s Dove guest, lounge and rocking chair series is welcoming with its molded PET shell that is custom made to fit the perfect ergonomic shape for seating. It combines natural and recycled materials for extra stability and comfort.

Trend 3: Technology

Technology has come a long way from computers and copy machines when it comes to the office. The influence of technology on furniture design has become increasingly prevalent especially in the past few years, when we were forced to rely on it and find new ways to integrate it to our work culture during the pandemic. During NeoCon 2023, smart furniture is seeing a rise. Smart furniture has made its way into the workforce in the form of furniture being equipped with technology to adjust height, collect data on comfort preferences and more, to create an interactive space. Media tables are also frequently used as a flexible area, as an easy way to gather groups for quick online meetings and break apart for individual work. Technology has become a crucial solution to issues like ergonomic optimization, hybrid workspaces and productivity. It’s an irrefutable game-changer that is here to stay.

NeoCon Trends 2023 Via Seating 4-UP Chair
Photo: Via Seating Ergonomic 4-UP Chair

Via Seating’s 4-UP chair is an excellent example of technology at work with its focus on providing incredible ergonomics and comfort. The upholstered backs have adjustable lumbar standards and advanced control mechanisms that use single rotation adjustments for back and body options.

Trend 4: Flexibility

As the next generation heads into the workforce, productivity changes appearance. Nowadays, workplaces are willing to be more flexible, capable of working with their employees to find a space they can concentrate in. This was a trend this year in NeoCon 2023 because it allows for employees to have more adaptability and personalization in their workspaces, and are easily reconfigured to accommodate different needs. Flexible furniture consists of modular furniture, adjustable desks, collaborative seating and more. Optimization and fluidity is the objective of flexible furniture.

NeoCon Trends 2023 Senator CoLab Worspaces
Photo: Senator CoLab Modular Workspace Series

Senator’s modular furniture series, CoLab, is the personification of flexibility. It was created to accommodate changing approaches to work, so whether you need to sit, stand, or perch – feel free to pick the posture you need to inject fresh energy.

Neocon 2023 Trends Deliver For the Future

As always, NeoCon never disappoints. With the latest trends pointing towards a more health-oriented workplace, it is guaranteed that the future of the commercial industry is looking bright.

What are some trends you would like to see?

Interested in More NeoCon 2023 Trends?

Interested in learning more?  Stay tuned for our upcoming article on our NeoCon 2023 trends favorites, and winners of the coveted awards won each year.

With a combined 50 years of experience, 2010 Office Furniture is always at the forefront of the latest trends in office furniture and equipment.  If you need help and guidance on planning and furnishing your office space, we can help!  2010 Office Furniture has worked with clients who are among Southern Californias most distinguished corporations, nonprofits, and small businesses.  Contact us with your office furniture planning and design needs.

Read Also: NeoCon 2022 Trends: The Future of Office Furniture
Main Photo: Stylex Seating Luna Lounge Seating
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: DARRAN, SenatorStylex Seating and Via Seating 

NeoCon 2023 Countdown Begins!

NeoCon 2023 OFS Zero Chairs

NeoCon 2023 is fast approaching, and with it the chance to see the latest innovation in furniture.

NeoCon is the most important event of the year for the commercial design industry since 1969. It takes place at the famous Merchandise Mart, also known as “The Mart,” in Chicago and is only open to trade professionals. They divide their entries into categories, ranging from Furniture, Fabrics, Flooring, Interior Building Products, Interior Finishes and Technology to markets such as Workplace, Healthcare, Hospitality, Retail, Education, Public Space and Government. NeoCon is an event of creativity and growth that allows professionals to see the latest the furniture world has to offer and attend educational programs to make connections, learn, and offer their insight and expertise on important topics in the industry today.

A Look Back at NeoCon 2022

Typically organized by Merchandise Mart Properties Inc., the most recent NeoCon was held in 2022. For three days, from June 13 – 15, the exhibit hall was the heart of NeoCon, where over 500 exhibitors showcased the latest products and trends in commercial design. The key themes that emerged from them were sustainable design, the increased use of technology to enhance the workplace, adaptable, flexible spaces in a post-pandemic world, and a focus on employee wellness.


Photo: OFS Heya Table

KONCEPT INC. won the Gold Award for the lighting section with their Focaccia Desk Lamp and Silver Award for the Combi Pendant Light while OFS  presented a new series of seating products that won the Sustainability award with their natural materials.


Photo: Koncept Focaccia Desk and Floor Lighting 

Scandinavian Spaces also won the Innovation award in the furniture category with their Yarn chair for its environmentally-friendly textiles and organic design.


Photo: Scandinavian Spaces Yarn Chairs

NeoCon 2022 offered a glimpse of the future where design can be used to create more productive, comfortable, and green workplaces.

Looking Forward to NeoCon 2023

This year, NeoCon is going to take place on June 12 – 14. It will feature 56 product categories that will be evaluated onsite by a diverse panel of juries that consist of renowned architects, designers, and others with a mastery in commercial, healthcare, education, and hospitality sectors. While there are typically 5 awards available, as of 2023, NeoCon is also announcing that the best entries will be granted a Business Impact Award as recognition of outstanding solutions through industry-oriented lens.

What Will NeoCon 2023 Trends Be?

What key trends can we expect to see at NeoCon 2023? Many of the post-pandemic trends are still prevalent today.


Photo: OFS Denro Table

Sustainable materials continue to be popular; consumers are now more aware than ever of their impact on the environment and are seeking green materials. Long-lasting, environmental-friendly furniture solutions is a trend that’s here to stay.


Photo: Allermuir Various Seating Collections 


Photo: OFS Roo Planters

Wellness is another trend expected to extend into 2023 and beyond because designers have finally found the balance between motivation and relaxation. The importance of wellness is also backed by studies that show how flexible office layouts lead to more productive and happy employees. Wellness-focused design include features like ergonomic furniture, natural light and fresh air, thermal comfort and biophilic design.

We can look forward to further technology integration; technology is growing increasingly advanced and is taking the workplace with them in the form of touch-screen displays, smart lighting, and integrated audio/visual systems.


Photo: Stylex Underline Seating

Bold and colorful interiors influenced by the 70s are also making a comeback—designers are all about channeling the exuberant energy and innovation from that decade to the present.

Curved furniture is another rising trend in 2023; adding a soft touch to the straight lines and clinical design of spaces. In tandem with sustainable design, color palettes with a focus on green, brown, and cream shades are popular throughout this year for its calming effect.

2010 Office Furniture Knows the Latest Trends

What are you looking forward to seeing from NeoCon 2023?  Stay tuned for upcoming updates covering the much anticipated event taking place next week.

With a combined 50 years of experience, the team at 2010 Office Furniture is committed to always being at the forefront of the latest and greatest in office furniture and equipment.  If you need help and guidance on planning and furnishing your office space, we can help!  2010 Office Furniture has worked with clients who are among Southern Californias most distinguished corporations, nonprofits, and small businesses.  Contact us with your office furniture planning and design needs.

Read Also: NeoCon 2022 Trends: The Future of Office Furniture
Main Photo: OFS Brands Zero Chairs
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: Allermuir, Koncept Lighting, OFS Brands, Scandinavian Spaces and Stylex Seating