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 California’s 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, Senator, Stylex Seating and Via Seating 

How to Create an Experience-Driven Office Wellness Program

An effective overall office wellness program goes beyond checking blood pressure and office exercise to fight work-related illnesses or weight gain. Let’s take a holistic look at making an experience-driven employee office wellness program that’s right for your office.

Office Wellness and the Ambiance

Provide value to your employees in the same way that you offer value to potential customers and existing customers.  Look at the overall atmosphere in the office and find ways to make large or small improvements. Provide an espresso bar and baskets in a break area filled with healthy snacks like granola, fresh fruits and vegetables.  Natural lighting has been proven to boost morale and is a desirable perk. Maximize the flow of outdoor light and green up spaces using indoor plants. In our tech-heavy world, a connection to nature becomes more important than ever for an overall sense of well-being.  Bottom line: create a satisfying and nurturing experience that your employees will love.

Office Wellness and Workspaces

Give employees the freedom to work where they’re most comfortable, or to stay put in one place. An office design should bring out the best in people so they can be as productive as possible. Structure and habit work well for some while other staff may like more of a free-range office concept.  There are now a huge variety of desks and chairs that are available to meet a variety of needs. It’s possible to have assigned workstations and more flexible areas where someone can move to and work.  Don’t require someone to sit in one place and work on coding or do market research. If they’re achieving what they need to do, and they have the furnishings to support their work then let them take responsibility for their outcomes.  All in all, provide an atmosphere that keeps stress to a minimum and rewards quality.

Creative an Office Wellness Program

Find ways to integrate wellness into daily work. Do postings on an attractive cubicle partition or architectural wall that encourage fitness and good health.

Food is a major ingredient in a person’s approach to wellness.

  • Post recipes of easy-to-make salads.
  • Arrange employee discounts with local stores on produce and organic lunches.

Exercise is another key to staying healthy.

  • Set aside an area that’s no more than 8 feet by 10 feet and have an exercise ball and free weights.
  • Install a treadmill.
  • Post pictures of favorite walks and hikes that employees like to take.
  • Bring in a personal trainer once a week to give ideas and answer questions on topics like staying in shape despite a busy lifestyle.

You’ll see that an investment in a holistic office wellness program will yield to a payoff that will translate to a healthier, happier and more productive company.

Read Also: Create an Office Wellness Plan for Optimal Thinking
Main Photo: OFS Brands Eleven Wood and Obeya Booth
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: OFS Brands

Move, Sit & Listen: The Basics for Holistic Office Wellness

Promote holistic office wellness by helping staff move, sit, and listen. It’s easy to put it into the daily routine with a low cost and high potential returns. Here are three categories to use in evaluating your approach.

Office Wellness with Movement

Furnish your office for activity. Our bodies are meant to move and not sit in one place for hours at a time.

This write-up from Office Vibe shares important facts: up to 80% of Americans work in jobs that require little to no movement; and research shows that employee medical costs fall by $3.27 for every dollar spent on wellness programs.  Here’s what happens with a sedentary lifestyle at the office and at home. Pressure builds on the lower back and joints while key muscle groups can weaken. Blood circulation suffers and, ultimately, less oxygen flows to the brain.  Office wellness that includes movement can be subtle. Show employees stretching exercises to do while seated. Encourage them to take a brisk walk down the hallway every couple of hours or scoot around the block outside during lunch.  Install height-adjustable desks for individual offices and for workstations. Start getting used to it slowly by using it in a standing position for 10 to 15 minutes at a time.

Wellness When Sitting

Sitting seems like a non-stress activity that shouldn’t have any impact on our bodies. Not true. Make no mistake that sitting without moving creates stress.  Gravity is at work, plus the way we sit can aggravate key areas of the body like the neck area, lower back and hips.  Employee wellness should focus on sitting with proper posture while using ergonomic chairs and workstations and desks with height-adjustable surfaces. Here’s why:

  • Proper posture is when a person is sitting in front of a computer with a relatively straight back and not straining to see the screen. Leaning forward strains the neck because our heads weigh as much as a heavy bowling ball. That gradually pulls the vertebrae out of alignment and pinches the nerves running from the brain to the rest of the body. Blood flow is reduced and pain signals increase.
  • Ergonomic chairs have a real-world benefit that adjust to the contours of the body and evenly distribute weight. They allow for natural movement, too. Not all chairs are quality ergonomic so look for those with lumbar support, waterfall seating to relieve stress on the legs and adjustments for armrests, height and tilt.
  • Height-adjustable desks and workstations conform to individual needs so it’s easy to sit properly. This reduces the flare-up of ailments like carpal-tunnel syndrome.

Another danger to sitting is when people slouch on chairs or sofas and cradle a cell phone with their neck and shoulder. Remember, our bodies and the parts that make it are a whole. A daily repetitive motion like this can throw us out of alignment.  That’s why stretching and regular intervals of movement are beneficial.

Listening Properly

Another part of office wellness isn’t so obvious, but it can reduce stress a great deal. It’s listening properly.  By nature, people want to have their voices heard and know that their ideas and opinions matter. Personal interactions are easily misinterpreted because personality differences come in such wide ranges. This is true in a family and it’s certainly true in an office setting.  And as much as we sometimes try, we can never really fully separate our personal lives and needs from our work and professional lives. Broken relationships, sick kids, and other personal issues distract from the tasks at hand.  Learning to listen well can reduce internal stress—that’s the jangling nerves that we don’t see. Executives, mid-level managers and hourly workers can all use reminders on how to stop, hear what the other person is saying, and repeat back what they’ve heard.

Having designated areas for quiet conversation and personal reflection is key. Semi-enclosed meeting pods and seating arrangements that allow for one-on-one or individual time provide focus and reduce distractions. Leave cell phones behind and don’t take a laptop to go online.

Achieving Holistic Office Wellness

Office wellness can easily be implemented in the everyday work setting. For ideas on how to plan and furnish an office for better office wellness submit your questions and needs to us!  Our 2010 Office Furniture team of experts have a combined of five decades of experience helping start-ups, nonprofits and leading corporations throughout Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire.

Read Also: Staying Productive with an Effort for Holistic Office Wellness
Main Photo: Global River Lounge
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: Global