Lines are already filling up for the interior trade industry’s premier annual event, NeoCon 2026. With more than 450 established and emerging exhibitors, this year’s lineup includes engaging exhibits, collaborations and more—plus a new lighting showcase, Illuminate at NeoCon. But one thing you won’t want to miss? NeoCon Talkspresented in collaboration with Design Milk.
2026 NeoCon Talks, located in The MART’s 7th Floor Exhibit Hall, will take over the NeoCon Talks Stage for two days with 12 thought-provoking 20-minute talks from leading voices. The talented ones list of speakers includes Elettra De Pellegrin, Architect Founder and CEO, SLALOM Acoustics. Janet Simpson, Chairman and CEO, TVS. Dwayne MacEwen, Founder, Principal & Creative Director, DMAC Architecture & Interiors, and more. Sponsored by Slalom Acoustic Systems, Garden on the Wall, MOCKETT, Andreu World, and Keilhauer—and hosted by Design Milk Assistant Editor Sophie Sobol—these inspiring talks and informative discussions will be too good to miss.
For its fourth year, NeoCon Talks has partnered with Design Milk to platform influential and emerging voices sharing bold ideas for the future of commercial interior design. And after a successful call for chats and at filing season, this lineup represents the cream of the crop.
Monday, June 8
12:45-1:05 p.m. — Designing for Neurodiversity: Two Perspectives Rethinking Inclusivity. SPEAKERS: Arnold C. Levin, Principal, CWI & Zoe Levin Student, University of Washington.
1:15 – 1:35 p.m. — A practical framework for circular interior design. SPEAKERS: Brittany McNairy, Senior Technical Coordinator, Senior Associate, Perkins&Will & Timothy Anscombe-Bell, Fitwel Ambassador, ASID Director, Sustainable Design Collective.
1:45 – 14:05 — Diving Deep: Designing what is not written — but felt. SPEAKER: Dwayne MacEwen, Founder, Principal & Creative Director, DMAC Architecture & Interiors.
2:15 – 14:35 — Teamwork wins: Culture as strategy. SPEAKER: Janet Simpson President and CEO, TVS.
2:45 – 15:05 — Grassroots & Grants: Designing a Better Chicago. SPEAKER: Tanner Woodford, Founder, Iterative Work.
3:15 – 3:35 p.m — Why Nature’s Patterns Heal Us: Understanding Fractals and Biophilia. SPEAKER: Mette Shenker, LEED AP, IIDA Senior Principal, Design Director, SmithGroup.
Tuesday, June 9
12:45 – 13:05 — Being Invisible: A Design Journey. SPEAKER: Kristin Cerutti, ID+C Regional Design Leader, Workplace, NELSON Worldwide.
1:15 – 13:35 — Designing the way we feel, think and experience space. SPEAKER: Laura Guido-Clark CEO, LOVE GOOD GOOD PBC.
1:45 – 2:05 p.m. — The Future of Furniture: How Disruption Creates Opportunity. SPEAKER: Lisa Gralnek Global Head of Sustainability & Impact, US CEO, iF Design.
2:15 – 2:35 PM — Work and Wellness: Designing to Heal, Engage and Endure. SPEAKERS: Quána Madison Multi Disciplinary Artist, ArtLifting & Stephen Brown Senior Vice President of Global Market Development, International WELL Building Institute (IWBI).
2:45 – 3:05 p.m. — Design for well-being: How sound shape and color experience. SPEAKER: Elettra De Pellegrin, Architect Founder and CEO, SLALOM Acoustics.
3:15 – 3:35 p.m. — Salutogenic Spaces: Designing Workplaces that Thrive. SPEAKERS: Jill Stewart President, Office Revolution & Kelly Colón Founder, Coach, Educator & Author of “Life Interrupted”, Eledex Consulting.
Don’t miss the NeoCon 2026 Keynotes! Register for NeoCon or learn more details here: https://neocon.com/programming/neocon-talks.
2026 NeoCon Talks sponsored by Slalom Acoustic Systems, Garden on the Wall, MOCKETT, Andreu World, Keilhauer.
Photo courtesy of NeoCon.
