March 5, 2026 — The world’s premier platform for commercial design, NeoCon, is guided by the 2026 theme, “Where Design Connects.” The show will serve as an important nexus for the people, products and perspectives driving the industry forward. Programming sessions, reviewed and curated by a volunteer conference board, meet the needs of NeoCon’s diverse attendee audience ranging from commercial interior designers and architects to facility managers and planners, along with real estate professionals leading the future of office spaces.
If you’re an FM, these Featured Presentations matter
The McMorrow Reports & FMLink editors will be attending these Featured Presentations:
How to Redesign Your Office for the Gen Z Takeover. Gen Z isn’t just adapting to workplace culture — they’re redesigning it. This conversation brings those insights to life with the people shaping what comes next: from leadership expectations and communication norms to company values, hybrid work, and the design of physical and digital environments. Speakers: Amanda Schneider, MBA, President, ThinkLab; Elanta Slowek, Content and Brand Strategist, The Academy Group, Inc.. and Philip Ross, Founder and CEO, UnGroup and Cordless Group.
The Foundations of AI with Cisco, NVIDIA & Microsoft. Artificial Intelligence is rapidly reshaping every industry, fueling predictions about its transformative impact on both our work and daily lives. However, the real extent of AI’s influence — particularly for knowledge workers and the built environment — is still unfolding. As we move toward an AI-led future shaped by agentic systems, ambient intelligence, and physical AI, organizations much consider which foundational elements to prioritize and design for today, to unlock tomorrow’s potential. Speakers: Alfonso Oliva, AI Lead for the AECO Industry, NVIDIA and Brian McCourt, Principal, Future-Proofed Workplace Studio, Cisco. Moderator is Amanda Schneider, MBA, President, ThinkLab.
Squaring Off on Circularity. Circularity in commercial furniture is increasingly being judged not by intentions, but by outcomes. This panel examines where circular strategies are working in the marketplace — and where they fall short — by comparing high-quality, durable products with lower-cost, disposable offerings. Join industry leaders as they look at the logistical realities of sustainable design. From designing products with a “vintage-ready” second life to navigating the complexities of reuse logistics, we’ll explore what works, what doesn’t, and why. Speakers: Joshua Belczyk, Sustainability Officer, Keilhauer; Lisa Adams, NCIDQ, LEED AP, WELL AP, LSSYB, Principal, HKS; and Kristi Zook, NCIDQ, IIDA, LEED Green Associate, Senior Interior Designer, State Farm.
Adding to this year’s expansive offerings is the debut of Illuminate at NeoCon, a new “show-within-a-show” spotlighting the critical role of lighting in the built environment. All seven exhibition floors of The Mart — 1, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, and 14 — will be open.
Best of NeoCon Awards submission portal is open
The commercial design industry’s premier awards program, Best of NeoCon, is open for product submissions since March 1. Since 1990, the competition has served as a cornerstone of design excellence, honoring holistic, leading-edge solutions that advance performance, sustainability, innovation, and user experience within the built environment. Adding to its robust roster of 46 categories across the workplace, healthcare, hospitality, and education sectors, this year’s competition will feature expanded lighting categories aligned with the debut of Illuminate at NeoCon — a show-within-a-show that’s dedicated to lighting innovation. Attendees should look for showroom signage indicating Best of NeoCon winners, starting Monday morning right after the winners are announced.
Keynote speakers connect the power of humanity with design
Jessica O. Matthews – Find Your Fight: The Power of Taking it Personally
Monday, June 8 | 10:00–10:45 a.m. CDT | Presented by IIDA
Award-winning entrepreneur, inventor, and energy advocate Jessica O. Matthews will kick off NeoCon 2026 by examining how the most transformative innovations emerge when the impact is personal. Drawing from nearly two decades of work at the intersection of infrastructure and social impact, Matthews will unlock the power of a human-centered lens—and how purpose-driven pressure can spark breakthrough ideas. Best known for inventing an energy-generating soccer ball at age 19 and founding Uncharted Power, Matthews has spent her career reimagining how energy and infrastructure can better serve communities more equitably. Now the founder and CEO of O. Labs, an invention studio dedicated to expanding access to innovation, she will invite the NeoCon community to rethink who innovation is for, how ideas move from concept to action, and how personal motivation can drive meaningful impact.
“Innovation isn’t just a process — it’s a fight,” says Matthews. “Like in any fight, when the stakes are personal, the innovation is more powerful. At NeoCon, I’m excited to share how taking it personally turns pressure into purpose and challenges into breakthroughs.”
Nick Foster — Resetting How We Think About the Future
Tuesday, June 9 | 10:00–10:45 a.m. CDT | Presented by ASID
Notable Royal Designer for Industry — Britain’s highest accolade for a designer — and Former Head of Design at Google X, Nick Foster, is set to challenge assumptions about what’s ahead, evaluating the power of imagination, technology, and the human experience. Leaning on decades of work with the world’s most influential technology companies and his “Future Mundane” philosophy, Foster reframes the future not as a distant abstraction, but as an extension of the present — designed by people, for people. His address will dismantle conventional narratives of progress, offering frameworks to strengthen foresight, expand perspectives, and navigate the future with confidence, clarity, and purpose.
“Our collective ability to conceptualize what’s next with depth and rigor remains underdeveloped,” shares Foster. “Rather than forecasting outcomes, I want to offer a moment of intentional pause to help the NeoCon community become better critics and creators, as we all tackle the overwhelming tide of uncertainty that lies ahead.”
David Shing — Designing for an Evolving World
Wednesday, June 10 | 9:30–10:30 a.m. CDT | Presented by BIFMA
Creative advisor and cultural strategist David “Shingy” Shing will close NeoCon 2026, exploring how exponential technology and cultural acceleration are redefining the way people live, work, and connect. Formerly AOL’s “Digital Prophet,” Shingy is celebrated for decoding cultural signals and translating them into actionable strategies for brands and organizations leading rapid transformation. Tapping into his work across marketing, media, design, and technology, Shingy will unpack how organizations and design systems can keep pace with change, ensuring relevance in a world where yesterday’s breakthroughs quickly become baseline expectations.
Show registration is free for all attendees. To register, visit NeoCon. Keynotes will be delivered live on-site and will also be available for streaming on NeoCon.com. Programming registration for Keynotes, Featured Presentations, Continuing Education Units (CEUs), Workshops, NeoCon Talks, and Inside Design tours will open on April 1.
For showroom, exhibitor, and general NeoCon news, images, and real-time information, follow NeoCon on: Instagram (@NeoCon_Shows), LinkedIn (@NeoCon-Shows), and Facebook (@NeoConShows).
