CHICAGO — The annual Best of NeoCon Awards were presented at a breakfast ceremony Tuesday morning at Chicago’s Merchandise Mart. A total of 126 awards were bestowed upon products in 50 categories for Gold, Silver, Sustainability, Innovation, Business Impact and one overall Best of Competition.
The winners were selected by a group of 53 architects, designers, specifiers, enterprise clients, facility managers and business media who judged products on-site. This year, Momentum Textiles & Wallcovering’s colorful collaboration with British-Nigerian artist Yinka Ilori won for Best of Competition, marking the first time in 34 years an entrant in the Wall Treatments and Textiles categories took home the top honors.
“Best of NeoCon 2024 shines a spotlight on industry innovation,” said Best of NeoCon Director Eileen McMorrow. “Manufacturers are finding ways to solve the market demand for collaborative, connective spaces, as well as furniture to improve hybrid, remote working.”
McMorrow said that products such as case goods and furniture systems are becoming more scalable for flexibility and adaptability. She added that bold and happy colors are gaining in prevalence as workplaces become more relaxed and inviting to encourage employee recruitment and retention.
On the furniture side, 69 awards were given across sub-categories including benching, case goods/desks, collections for collaborations, conference room furniture, education solutions, furniture systems, lounge furniture collections, seating, storage, tables and workplace accessories.
Here are five standouts:
