NeoCon it is not for the weak. This year’s attendees who visited The Mart—a downtown Chicago building so massive it used to have its own zip code—managed days full of appointments and racked up impressive steps. With more than 450 exhibitors as well as participants from 88 countries, the programming for this 57u The release was packed with activations: Sandow’s DesignScene, which includes; METROPOLIS’ Sustainability Lab, the Designer Wellness Lounge by Drawing Milkand an interactive experience from Interior design; the new lighting show Illuminate. and more. One wrong step could take you from a brand showcase to a showroom dance party!
Acoustic trees courtesy of Slalom.
Dais chair by Keilhauer.
This mixture of enthusiasm and dedication poured into The Mart’s 7u Floor exhibition space, where the public gathered for the 2026 NeoCon Talks. Presented in partnership with Design Milk and sponsored by Slalom Acoustic Solutions, MOCKETT, Garden on the Wall, Andreu World and Keilhauer, this two-day series of talks—organized by Assistant Editor Sophie Sobol—featured a variety of design-promotion dialogs. With over a dozen compelling speakers presenting on a variety of important topics, which included designing for neurodiversity and welcoming interiors, the NeoCon 2026 Keynotes left attendees with many insightful perspectives.
Below, explore five of our top meals…
Acoustic totems & Slalom scenography.
Brezal chair and table by Andreu World. Hardware architecture support via MOCKETT.
Preserved plant walls courtesy of Garden On The Wall.
1. The Invisibility of Disability
Kristin Cerutti, Regional Design Leader, Workplace at NELSON worldwideshe began her speech with a simple but powerful framework. “There are two types of people: those who are disabled and those who are temporarily capable,” she explained. That’s why it’s so important to design for all types of abilities—especially when disabilities are invisible. According to Cerutti, 1 in 6 people worldwide has a disability, and about 80 percent of them are invisible. In response, Cerutti advises designers to be curious and empathetic, to seek their own research. we become”.
2. Sound and color are not competing systems
Elettra de Pellegrin understands the deep connection between sound and color. In her NeoCon Talk, the founder and CEO Slalom audio solutions walked listeners through the psychology behind colorful architectural acoustics and how different elements work together to improve well-being – affecting stress reduction, concentration, productivity, emotional well-being, comfort perception and spatial experience. Acoustic trees and colorful pink totems from Slalom surrounded the NeoCon Talks stage, proving their material’s fitness for purpose in style, infusing the venue with a playful sense of joy.
3. Are you solving for your whole self?
For Jill Stewart, its President Office revolutionand Kelly Colón, Coach, Trainer, Author and Founder Eledex Consultinginclusive design is more than physical mobility or sensory accessibility—it must include the integrated biological systems of the entire body. Enter: Whole Body Design, a framework that recognizes people as integrated organisms, uniting sensory, cognitive and psychological systems. “The more we understand people, the better we can design environments that support our whole selves,” the duo explained.
4. Design for Neurodiversity: Space does not equal safety
Arnold C. Levin, Principal of strategic planning firm CWI, has learned profound lessons from his daughter, Zoe, about how her neurodiversity affects life in the workplace. But a basic package? Space alone is not a solution. In open-concept offices meant to be inclusive, many neurodiverse people struggle to feel safe, often distracted by sounds, layouts and other stimuli. In this talk, Levin challenged current assumptions about planning for neurodiversity in the workplace, asking: are we solving the wrong problem too well?
5. Circularity fails when projects are still designed to be linear
In this talk, Brittany McNairy, Senior Technical Coordinator and Senior Partner at Perkins & Willand Timothy Anscombe-Bell, Fitwel Ambassador, ASID Director, Sustainable Design Collectiveimproved barriers to circular interior design and delivery—and what can be done to overcome them. For McNairy and Anscombe-Bell, connectivity is key, but so are practical tips for success. Here’s their list of what can be done in the immediate future: 1) start reuse efforts and align project partners early, 2) inventory existing spaces before demolition, 3) include design-in-purpose reuse planning, 4) start small with one project component, and 5) ask builders about recovery programs.
Watch the full NeoCon Talks 2026 recordings at neocon.com
2026 NeoCon Talks sponsored by Slalom Acoustic Systems, Garden on the Wall, MOCKETT, Andreu World, Keilhauer.
Photo by Kevin Serna.
