From June 9 to 11, 2025, NeoCon returns to The Mart in Chicago, confirming its role as a key event for the commercial design industry. Now in its 56th edition, the event will feature 450 exhibiting brands across approximately 1 million square feet, and expects to welcome around 50,000 industry professionals. Centered on the theme Design Ahead, the show aims to explore the ongoing transformations taking place in workplaces, learning environments, healthcare facilities, and hospitality settings.
The global market for commercial interior design reached a value of $102 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to $127.8 billion by 2030. Against this backdrop, NeoCon positions itself as a platform for observing emerging trends: neuro-inclusive design, modular and flexible systems, sustainable practices, intelligent materials, and solutions developed to meet climatic, health-related, and operational demands.
The program includes three keynote speakers: author and consultant Annie Jean-Baptiste, design journalist Alice Rawsthorn, and tech entrepreneur Chris Barton. Alongside them, over 60 CEU-accredited educational sessions, seven featured presentations, and four technical and design-focused workshops will be held. Also scheduled are 12 NeoCon Talks addressing AI, the evolution of the workplace, storytelling, and human-centered design, with contributors from firms such as HOK, Gensler, CannonDesign, and Partners by Design.
Among the collateral initiatives: Inside Design, created in collaboration with the Design Museum of Chicago, offers guided tours of notable locations including the Ramova Theatre, the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, and the You Are Beautiful studio. Art on The Mart will illuminate the south façade of the building with a projection by Perkins&Will. Paved States will convert a suite into a gallery-meets-retail space dedicated to Chicago’s Brutalist architecture.
The Designing a Better Chicago initiative continues its support for civic and community-based projects. The 2025 awards will go to Global Garden Refugee Training Farm, Eric Hotchkiss, and Floating Museum. Rounding out the event are installations such as the Haworth Design Lab, the Design Creates Joy exhibit, and the ReWritten pop-up focused on material circularity.
Registration and additional details are available at www.neocon.com
