NeoCon 2012 is over. Another blur...lots of new, interesting products and reconnecting with many industry friends. Having worked at Vitra, and now deeply involved with OFS Brands in the design of their New York Showroom and new product development, it certainly brings a different perspective to my experience. As a totally indoctrinated OFS family member now, I found myself giving tours of the Chicago showroom and explaining products to friends as if I was back selling furniture again. I love this stuff!
The big trend this year is technology integration. Everybody is doing it. Teknion has wireless switches integrated into Carl Magnusson designed pieces that allow users to instantly toggle from one device to another on a single screen; allowing up to four people to workshare on a single screen. Knoll and Haworth also have multiple options for workstation technology integration. Haworth features a new proprietary wireless technology for displaying multiple displays on a single screen (which by the way, flat screen monitor manufacturers must have made a killing leading up to this NeoCon). Steelcase took it to the extreme with every imaginable work setting from benching to individual cocoons tied to a monitor, displaying multiple images. In my view...they went way overboard.
On the contrarian side, Herman Miller eschewed built-in technology by arguing, and I think they are correct, that technology is changing so fast, that it guarantees furniture obsolescence and is a waste of resources. More interesting to their case was a mix of work settings achievable through using Herman Miller Collection pieces. Along with Knoll Classics, these pieces are always the best-in-show to me and Miller's reintroduction of Alexander Girard designed pieces and fabrics are stunning.
The last bit of technology integration came from OFS with their new "eleven" line. Power, VGA and USB ports are integrated into table edge bands, which allow for a surface free of cords and clutter. Even OFS' glass-topped desk incorporates speaker technology to allow the amplification of sound directly from the table's surface. And the flat screen monitor, similar to a large iPad, is spectacular. The product line won Best-in-Show from Metropolis magazine.
Other activities included a joint meeting of the Fellows of IIDA and ASID, which are tackling the long sought-after goal of merging the two organizations. While it is clear that everyone wants the merge to happen, many political and practical hurdles must be overcome. I left the meeting with no expectations for significant progress in the upcoming year.
I attended a presentation by Primo Oprilla and Verda Alexander, founders of O+A and husband and wife, who are designing some great workplaces in Silicon Valley for the likes of Google and Facebook, among many others. They are also working on new furniture designs for Inscape and OFS Brands, and have a refreshing point-of-view about the future of the workplace and the integration of an organization's culture with design.
I attended great parties hosted by OFS and Teknion, and an open house at Atelier Gary Lee filled with very high-end furniture for residential and hospitality applications...incredible workmanship and attention to detail. To cap-off the experience, the annual "Knights of NeoCon" party, hosted by Jim Ford of Desks Inc. in Chicago, brought together several industry luminaries, such as Neil Frankl, Carl Magnusson, Richard Pollack, Carey Johnson, Dennis Cahill and John Rouse for serious talk (not!) and libations.
All in all, a very successful NeoCon. Attendance appeared to have increased to Pre-Great Recession numbers and there was a lot of positive buzz...although that is always to be expected.
The big trend this year is technology integration. Everybody is doing it. Teknion has wireless switches integrated into Carl Magnusson designed pieces that allow users to instantly toggle from one device to another on a single screen; allowing up to four people to workshare on a single screen. Knoll and Haworth also have multiple options for workstation technology integration. Haworth features a new proprietary wireless technology for displaying multiple displays on a single screen (which by the way, flat screen monitor manufacturers must have made a killing leading up to this NeoCon). Steelcase took it to the extreme with every imaginable work setting from benching to individual cocoons tied to a monitor, displaying multiple images. In my view...they went way overboard.
On the contrarian side, Herman Miller eschewed built-in technology by arguing, and I think they are correct, that technology is changing so fast, that it guarantees furniture obsolescence and is a waste of resources. More interesting to their case was a mix of work settings achievable through using Herman Miller Collection pieces. Along with Knoll Classics, these pieces are always the best-in-show to me and Miller's reintroduction of Alexander Girard designed pieces and fabrics are stunning.
The last bit of technology integration came from OFS with their new "eleven" line. Power, VGA and USB ports are integrated into table edge bands, which allow for a surface free of cords and clutter. Even OFS' glass-topped desk incorporates speaker technology to allow the amplification of sound directly from the table's surface. And the flat screen monitor, similar to a large iPad, is spectacular. The product line won Best-in-Show from Metropolis magazine.
Other activities included a joint meeting of the Fellows of IIDA and ASID, which are tackling the long sought-after goal of merging the two organizations. While it is clear that everyone wants the merge to happen, many political and practical hurdles must be overcome. I left the meeting with no expectations for significant progress in the upcoming year.
I attended a presentation by Primo Oprilla and Verda Alexander, founders of O+A and husband and wife, who are designing some great workplaces in Silicon Valley for the likes of Google and Facebook, among many others. They are also working on new furniture designs for Inscape and OFS Brands, and have a refreshing point-of-view about the future of the workplace and the integration of an organization's culture with design.
I attended great parties hosted by OFS and Teknion, and an open house at Atelier Gary Lee filled with very high-end furniture for residential and hospitality applications...incredible workmanship and attention to detail. To cap-off the experience, the annual "Knights of NeoCon" party, hosted by Jim Ford of Desks Inc. in Chicago, brought together several industry luminaries, such as Neil Frankl, Carl Magnusson, Richard Pollack, Carey Johnson, Dennis Cahill and John Rouse for serious talk (not!) and libations.
All in all, a very successful NeoCon. Attendance appeared to have increased to Pre-Great Recession numbers and there was a lot of positive buzz...although that is always to be expected.