Collaboration Was a Theme Shared by the Best Designs at NeoCon

This year’s NeoCon exposition at the Chicago Merchandise Mart saw many firsts—Haworth’s breakthrough foray into collaborative tech systems, Herman Miller’s first  to the Action Office in 50 years with their Living Office, among the thousands of products and resources for commercial interiors, from more than 700 showrooms and exhibitors. For many, this was one of the first years they had found conceptual and critical perspective at NeoCon, particularly surrounding the future of the workplace. Manufacturers seemed to be feeling out the essence of collaboration, sometimes ending on the same note (privacy-centered seating), sometimes reaching completely different solutions (analog versus highly sophisticated conferencing systems).

The list of #MetropolisLikes award program winners, started with show-wide selections from our editors. These were then vetted live at the show, resulting in 60 brands who were awarded with plaques produced by 3M Architectural Markets, using 3M Crystal Glass Finishes. The plaques became a visual guide—helping the audience to navigate exhibitors via a live social media campaign, guided by the #MetropolisLikes hashtag, as each selection was broadcasted over Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, and Pinterest (and also quickly inscribed on the Idea Paint dry erase display board).

Our#MetropolisLikes award winners (featured below) reflect many different approaches and solutions: Vitra’s Sphere collection (designed for the United Nations) was perfectly minimal, ergonomic, and private while Nienkamper’s Gateway Collection was elegant, plush, and as comfortable a video conferencing/ presentation station you could hope for. Which is more true to the direction workplaces will take in the future? You decide.

Our special thanks to 3M Architectural Markets for another great collaboration, to Idea Paint for their incorporation of Metropolis Likes into their booth, and a warm congratulations to all the Metropolis Likes award winners at NeoCon 2013.

2/90 Sign Systems, Design Center System
3Form, Full Circle Collection
20-20 Technologies, Visual Impression App for Interiors
Abet Laminati, Crystaline
Allermuir, Tonina Chair
American Seating, US Wood Based Chair
Andreu Worldwide, New Brandy Chair
Anthro, Peanut iPad Cart
Arborite, INK Series
Bentley Prince Street, Clodagh Collaboration
Brentano, Solo and Cadence textiles
Bretford, Motive Collection
Carnegie, Xorel Exterior Textile
Configura, CET Designer 4.0
Dauphin, Little Perillo Chair
Designtex Charlie Harper Textiles
Devine Color, Creamy Wall Coatings
Doug Mockett, Lily Pad Charging Dock
DuPont Sorona, “Name that carpet” Product-Naming Contest
Dyson, Airblade Tap & Dryer
First Office | OFS, Staks Benching
Global Total Office, Vion Seating Series
Gunlocke, Credentials Series
HBF, November Table
Haworth, Bluescape Workspace
Herman Milller Healthcare–Nemschoff, Ethospace Caregiver Work Station
Humanscale, Diffrient Smart Chair by Niels Diffrient
ICF Group / NIENKAMPER, Gateway Collection
Idea Paint, Metropolis Likes Display Partner
Interface, Net-Effect
JSI, Connect
Joel Berman Glass, Olivia – 3D kiln Cast Glass
Jofco, Apogee Series
Johnsonite, Harmonium
KI, My Way Lounge
Keilhauer, Juxta Collection
Kimball Office, Poly
LACAVA, Catino Collection
Leland International, Slam Chair
LINAK, Switch on Wellness System
Luna Textiles, Cycle Satchels
Mechosystems, MagnaShade System
Mayer Fabrics, Waste Not Collection
Mohawk Group, Idlewild Carpet
Momentum Group, Sheila Hicks Collection
National Office Furniture, Fringe Collaborative Lounge Collection
Peter Pepper, Go-To Worktable + Matrix Clock
Roppe, Health & Learning Line
Shaw Commercial Hardsurface, Music Playlist Inspiration App
Shaw Contract, HEXAGON Carpet Tile
Sherwin Williams, Dry Erase Coating
Stinson, Fit by Polartec
Steelcase, Gesture
Stylex, Share Collection
Takeform Architectural Graphics, Jhane Barnes Signage Collection
Teknion, Spectrum Lounge
Trendway, Feek Collection
Universal Fibers, reFRESH Fiber
Versteel, Quanta HD Seating
Vitra, Sphere Collection
VS America, Neutra Collection