Top 5 Takeaways from NeoCon 2025
What 4,000 visitors taught us (besides the importance of good shoes)
We welcomed nearly 4,000 people through our showroom this year, which, if nothing else, means we had no excuse not to learn something. And we did. A lot, actually. From designers and dealers to the casually curious, we listened, watched, and paid attention to what drew people in, and what made them linger. The buzz, the feedback, the double takes; it all reminded us just how powerful in-person experience really is.
Here’s what we’re walking away with (along with tired feet and an urgent need to hydrate):
1. Range matters. So does showing it.
We’ve always customized. We’ve always built around real client needs. But this year, we didn’t just tell that story, we showed it. From the Edison 120° Workbench to Bahn Work Island with the Miro leg and layered surface options, people saw the whole arc of what’s possible. And once they saw it, they got it.
- Note to self: Telling is theory. Showing is belief.
- Design cue: Every mod is a message. Use prototypes to start the story.
2. Our finish palette got its moment (and then some).
Turns out, we weren’t the only ones obsessed with the new finishes. The response was immediate: warmth, depth, subtlety, texture. People noticed the interplay of color and edge detail, especially the seamless Fenix banding and wood veneer applications. The time-of-day pins? Gone faster than we could say “limited edition.”
- Note to self: People don’t just look at finishes, they experience them.
- Design cue: Tactile sells. Let materials speak for themselves (and don’t forget the pins).
3. Space is not a luxury. It’s a tool.
The Edison 120° Workbench wasn’t just a product; it was a vibe. A midpoint between structure and sprawl, it gave people room to connect and room to breathe. That same desire for “functional spaciousness” played out again and again, from the expansive surface of the C9 desk to the openness of the Zo Office layout. In a world packed with notifications, spatial clarity is productivity gold.
- Note to self: People don’t just need a seat, they need territory.
- Design cue: Give them a perch but also give them room to roam.
4. Whole-brain design wins.
Even in the overstimulated swirl of NeoCon, our "brain break" zones pulled people in. Magnetic poetry. Puzzle pieces. Anonymous notes to strangers. Turns out, in-between moments matter. People don’t stop being creative just because they’re between meetings.
- Note to self: Not all inspiration comes with a calendar invite.
- Design cue: Embed micro-moments of pause. People need a breather to think big.
5. Seeing IS believing (and touching doesn’t hurt, either).
The Allé Hopper made sense once people perched. The oversized C9 desk felt different when you actually leaned across it. And yes, that’s what a Fenix finish is supposed to feel like. People came in thinking they knew our products. Five minutes later, they didn’t just understand them, they wanted them.
- Note to self: A showroom isn’t a display. It’s a reality check.
- Design cue: Don’t just explain, let the product do the talking.
Thanks to every single person who stopped in, asked a smart question, snapped a picture, or just looked around with a curious eye. We left NeoCon 2025 more energized, more inspired, and more convinced than ever that real connections, human and material, still matter most. We’re building on everything we learned and can’t wait to show you what’s next.
