Behind the Showroom Design: A Q&A with the Team Behind Our 2025 NeoCon Showroom
Watson’s showroom for this year’s NeoCon, held June 9th – 11th, is more than a display—it’s a living, working office that will have visitors saying “I’d love to work here.” This year, our team set out to design a space that reflects the real-world functionality of our products, while debuting our refined finish palette and showcasing the thoughtful details that define Watson design. We sat down with Rachel Whitaker, Design Manager, and Jessica Work, Space Planner, to talk through the process, inspiration, and standout moments for this year’s design.
Let’s start with introductions—what were your roles in conceptualizing this year’s showroom design?
Rachel Whitaker, Design Manager: This year, I led the initial layout direction, which was later refined by Jessica. My role spanned both the macro and micro: from listing the products to include and setting up a high-level space vision, to detailing modified pieces, specifying finishes, and managing prototypes. A big focus for me was debuting our new finish palette across the product mix.
Jessica Work, Space Planner: I laid out the floor plan for the showroom based on industry trends and our current and upcoming product offerings. It was important to create a space that felt like a functioning office—because it is.
What was your design approach—any big concepts, goals, or challenges you tackled?
Rachel: We set out to design a space that feels like a real office—not a series of product vignettes. One unique constraint we give ourselves is reusing a certain percentage of the furniture from the previous year. It’s a sustainability-minded choice that also invites creative problem solving: how do we make the same pieces feel completely new? The layout process is incredibly iterative—we’re constantly balancing flow, product categories, materials, and finishes to ensure the space feels cohesive, even with so many moving parts.
This space also needs to work both during NeoCon and year-round. During the show, we need ample room for groups to move around and interact with the furniture. But most of the year, it’s a working office for a small team. Designing for both use cases means being strategic about density, movement, and flexibility.
Jessica: Because the space functions as both a showroom and a working office, we wanted to show a variety of work modes: single desks, collaborative spaces, café seating, and private offices. One of the biggest design challenges was the structural columns in the middle of the showroom. Rather than trying to work around them, we used them to anchor the open-plan desking—making them part of the design story.
Were there any specific products or details you really wanted to highlight?
Rachel: We’re known for functional, thoughtfully designed products—but one of the challenges we take on is showing how they work in harmony. We do that by blending similar design details—rounded edges, material pairings, complementary finishes. Even without a formal theme this year, our hope is that the focus on craftsmanship and cohesion shines through.
Jessica: The new finishes we introduced this year are a standout. I hope everyone who visits takes time to experience them up close. I’m also proud of the quality and subtle design choices across our furniture—I hope that care and intention comes through.
How does the showroom support different environments and work modes?
Rachel: We wanted to demonstrate the breadth of our offering—from touchdown team spaces to larger individual workstations. While the showroom centers around workstations, it also includes collaborative zones, café-style seating, and quiet private offices. Products like the Tonic Work Table and Zo Office showcase how Watson can meet a wide range of workspace needs.
Jessica: We’ve got a solution for every type of workflow. Whether you want to sit, stand, lean, or move—there’s a space for that.
What do you think will resonate most with people who visit the showroom?
Rachel: I think the updated finish palette is going to turn heads. We’ve made changes across every material category—powdercoat, laminate, fabric—and the results are versatile, refined, and relevant to designers across the country. The less saturated colorways add a softness that I think will appeal to a lot of teams planning new spaces.
Jessica: The attention to detail and clean aesthetic throughout the space will stand out. It’s subtle, but impactful.
Any detail you want to geek out about for a second?
Rachel: One of the most exciting pieces is the prototype for our 120-degree Edison Workbench. It’s a direct response to a growing customer interest in 120-degree planning—something that’s come back into focus. It’s a great example of how we evolve our products quickly and with purpose. We took the Edison Workbench’s unique detailing and applied it to a layout that’s both functional and flexible.
Jessica: This one’s all Rachel!
What keeps you inspired and excited about the industry?
Rachel: There’s no such thing as the best workstation—we’ll never be done evolving how we support work. That’s what keeps me inspired. People’s needs are changing, so we get to keep learning and adapting. Our goal is to design timeless, functional pieces that stay relevant as the world changes.
Jessica: Even though design trends cycle, there’s always something new to explore. That sense of freshness is what keeps me excited about coming in each day.
