Office Furniture Trends from NeoCon 2015

NeoCon is the biggest commercial interior event in the US. It's 3 days of contract (commercial) furniture manufacturers debuting their newest innovations. Here at Creative Office Furniture, we've been attending NeoCon for over 20 years. In so doing, it's how we make sure we stay on top of industry trends to provide expert advice on stylish and high quality furniture for our client's workspace.

Here are some of the highlights from our recent trip to NeoCon 2015.

5. Reflective Surfaces
We've come a long way from the days of clunky, solid wood office furniture. Now surfaces like frosted glass and marker board are being featured more prominently in office design. Incorporating glass into hutch, overhead, and storage unit doors is a great way to optimize light in a space.

Writeable surfaces are now making their way off the walls and onto worksurfaces themselves. Cubicle manufacturers have long since provided tile and frame option that allow for fabric tiles to be replaced by marker board. Certain products, like AIS' Oxygen, have entire desks that are made with writeable worksurfaces.

[caption id="attachment_3139" align="aligncenter" width="640"] iDesk Mixed Material Reception Unit


4. Mixed Materials
Another trend we noticed at NeoCon 15 was the use of mixed materials in the office. Cherryman's newest iDesk offering combines glass, metal, and recycled Coke bottles. With WestElm, Insacpe Solutions's residential line, we are seeing reclaimed wood and glass come together to create desks.

3. Technology Integration
In a society that seemingly has a smartphone glued to their hand, it's no surprise that office furntiure has begun to integrate technology. Gone are the days of having to crawl under your desk to find an outlet for your charger. In addition to standard power outlets, worksurfaces now have Ethernet and USB ports built in. For even more portability, USB charging ports can now be found on task lights as well.

2. MultiFunction/Mobility/Collaboration
Collaboration is more than just sharing files in Dropbox. A lot more manufacturers are putting stock into drop down stations and collaborative work areas. With more and more of the workforce being able to telework, it is vital to have a space where employes can plug in, have a quick meeting, and go.

[caption id="attachment_3140" align="aligncenter" width="640"] iDesk Benching Unit


1. Height Adjustable
We have been inundated with articles about how "sitting is the new smoking," and furniture manufacturers got the message loud and clear. There's no reason why a height adjustable option couldn't fit into any workspace. Bases are available to fit L-shapes, straight desks, and even 120* angle stations. Height adjustable can fit into an open plan or collaborative space, or retrofitted into a cubicle.

Some of Our Favorites from NeoCon 2015
[caption id="attachment_3138" align="alignright" width="300"] AIS Compete Studio


Jamie B. - I was really impressed with the new AIS Compete Studio. The finishes are nice and it's more refined looking and modern than previous Compete lines. Via Seating's Chico loung chair and ottoman are comfortable and sleek; while their Oyo is unique in the way it sits and is surprisingly comfortable!

Todd A. - Adjustability for sure! Everyone was incorporating height adjustable into offices, benching, and even workstations.

Jaquelyn G. - The JumpSeat from Sedia Systems was really cool for auditorium seating or healthcare, and it saves a lot of space. Global updated its Citi Seating so it is now more comfortable and more aesthetically pleasing. Like Jamie, I'm excited to see more from the AIS Compete Studio.

 
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About Jasmin

Jasmin handles Internet sales and digital marketing here at Creative Office Furniture. She's been a valuable member of the Creative team since March 2014.[/author_info] [/author]