PDT an Astronics Company: Product Design and Development Firm in Chicago, IL
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends

We walked the floors of NeoCon, the annual expo featuring commercial interior products and spaces. We see attendance important as we create products for making air travel more enjoyable and technologies for connecting and empowering people wherever they may be.

 

We welcome questions and would love to talk about your product development goals.

 

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Solutions for the Way we Work

Even somewhat traditional workplace designs had an element of modernity. Whether enabling standing, dividing space through suggestion rather than walls or offering privacy in unique ways, this isn’t the workspace of decades past.

Oh My Pod!

Privacy Granted.

NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends

When privacy is necessary, pods reigned supreme. None are made to make anyone feel comfortable staying for any amount of time, though, suggesting designers still see collaborative spaces as the future.

NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends

No, really, do not disturb! Signage signaling “this pod is taken” ranged from subtle to playful.

NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends

Semi-Private

NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends

A bit of privacy was offered in many forms: desks and tables in nooks and crannies, moveable screens and desk dividers. None would insulate from noise completely, but might provide enough individual space to make concentrating or creating boundaries among work groups possible.

 

We covered dividers in the air passenger space in our recent report following the Aircraft Interiors Expo. How might the solutions shown at NeoCon inspire new ideas for use in flight?

Trends from Airline Passenger Experience Expo >>

NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends

Privacy is Just a Suggestion

NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends

Better Together

Collaboration remained a strong theme at this year’s NeoCon, continuing a trend we’ve seen for years. Spaces and furniture that encourage movement and quick meetings around the office prevailed.

NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends

Grooming

the Next Gen

NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends

Furniture created with students in mind followed the mobile and collaborative trend.

Learn More About the Now Generation in our CES Trends Report >>

NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends

Charge

Cord management and power are always challenging in environments where people need to use multiple devices. There were certainly some elegant, well conceived solutions, but as a whole, this issue still seems to be one in which much improvement is needed.

NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends

Much like our observation at the 2018 Auto Shows, very little wireless inductive charging seems to be integrated into new product offerings. Will this change soon?

NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends

Do these cords give anyone else anxiety?

NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends

Interesting outdoor charging station, taking some cues from electric vehicle charging?

NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends

Well Being/

Being Well

NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends

Whether designed to energize or calm, spaces promoting wellness- both physical and mental- was a predominant theme this year. Solutions and design decisions made to evoke a feeling or promote wellbeing promised to not just make spaces lovely, but to add real value, like increasing efficiency and employee performance.

NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends

This office 'perch' is an interesting concept in that it's ultra-portable and lightweight for spontaneous meetings in dynamic workplaces, but the fact that the front had to be labeled so a user knows how  to use it lacks a touch of elegance.

NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends

Furniture isn’t just for function, and it isn’t just to make a space look nice. It can make a difference in your business.

NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends

Form is

Function

There is beauty in honesty. There’s comfort in knowing. These pieces show what they’re made of - literally - in an elegant and straightforward way.

NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends

Getting a Handle on Everything

NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends

It seemed like the quickest way to modernize any piece of furniture this year was to slap a handle on it. While some were functional, many seemed to just be a way to communicate that the piece would work well in a flexible office space.

NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends

All Natural

NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends

Perhaps bringing the outdoors in will make people feel like they haven’t been inside in front of a computer all day...

NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends

Organic shapes and soft edges were fresh.

NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends

Graphic Patterns

NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends

The pattern and color force was strong at this year’s NeoCon. One of the most interesting applications involved patterns that continued from one surface to another.

NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends

Playing with Scale

There were a lot of people gettin’ down at NeoCon 2018... literally. One way designers played with scale in the design of environments was by lowering furniture closer to the ground. Should we feel more relaxed? Are these spaces more casual? Does it make us feel more grounded?

NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends

Sometimes you’ve just got to go big or go home.

NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends

Color

NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends

Color can be a tool in creating an environment that energizes or makes a bold statement about who you are. This year there seemed to be a significant effort by many to run with bold, bright colors and some 80s flare.

NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends

Color applied to a space outside of fabric and paint was a refreshing take.

Color

When going for glam, a bit of sparkle and shine is always a good bet. Subtle, muted sheens were popular, but some deep, saturated tones were also shown.

NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends

Soft/Neutral Palettes

NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends

Soft palettes have long been a popular choice in commercial interiors for their calming, welcoming aura.

NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends

Playful & Bulbous

NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends

Light It Up

NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends

Texture and interest can come from lighting too. Designers played with color, texture, form and scale when creating lighting pieces.

NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends
NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends

Really interesting and fun use of light to relay a message. We could certainly see this application in areas where dynamic directions have to be relayed... like an airplane or train.

Questions? Comments?

 

Contact us >>

Contributors: Gil Cavada, George Guffey, Erik Moses, Nicole Byer, Jake Vail, John Hannon

NeoCon 2018 Commercial Interior and Technology Trends

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