As co-hosts of the inaugural NeoCon Talks series this year, we were neighbors with some of the most innovative brands exhibiting on the 7th floor at the Mart. In between our eight, 20-minute sessions, we combed the aisles to find the best additions to help make your workspaces commute-worthy. Here are the products that caught our attention for in and outside of the office!
Part One: The Indoor Office
Sisyphus is both a kinetic art sculpture and a beautifully designed piece of furniture. It works by magnetically pulling a steel ball through sand using a robot (the “Sisbot”). The tracks the ball leaves in the sand field create captivating, intricate, and endlessly changing patterns under a tempered glass table top. Sisyphus comes in metal side tables (22” diameter) and coffee tables (36” diameter); hardwood coffee tables (3’ and 4’ diameter); and as of last fall, the 15″ diameter Sisyphus Mini — desktop-size kinetic art decor.
This under desk office bike can power a rider’s laptop and cell phone with the energy generated by pedaling, so we were able to charge our phones while conducting our interview. We were pleasantly surprised with how quiet it was too so you wouldn’t stand out for noise on your next zoom call. Plus it’s sustainable too! The bike is made of fully–recyclable HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene) which uses less energy to produce, and doesn’t release toxins when recycled.
Do you need multiple screens to be productive? This modular monitor arm system is a great solution. Plus as workflows change, it’s easy to quickly rearrange or add new components as needed.
This NeoCon, Behr debuted the BioNature Collection which offers designers intentional colors in five palette themes, that according to Erika Woelfel, Vice President of Color & Creative Services, “embrace the relationship between indoor and outdoor environments and elevate the human experience for optimal wellbeing and productivity.” It was hard to pick just one image to share in this recap!
Everform® Solid Surface by Formica
In addition to celebrating student winners of its FORM Student Innovation Contest at NeoCon Talks and a launch party for their new book, Beyond Boomerang: A Celebration of 110 Years of Formica Patterns, Formica previewed seven beautiful new additions to the Everform collection.
Designer favorite, Brisa enjoyed a relaunch at NeoCon only this time with a recycled backcloth made of EIGHT plastic bottles per yard of fabric! It maintains the breathable technology specifiers and clients have come to expect plus it comes in 54 colors.
The standing height version of The Perch Table acts as a perfect answer for providing activation during short, impromptu meetings with colleagues. The foot bar adds to extra comfort and we couldn’t resist when the Head of Product Development (and past Next Work Environment Competition winner) offered to show us exactly how durable the ash wood is on their products!
Part Two: The Outside Office
Montego Urban Wood Outdoor Collection by Room & Board for Business
First-time NeoCon exhibitor brought their best-selling Montego Collection’s newest line extension which is a stunning combination of durable metals and reclaimed ash. Room &
Board for Business mindfully sources the solid wood for this collection in two ways: reclaimed from fallen urban trees and harvested from sustainably managed U.S. forests. You’ll want this at home too!
Inspired by a beach in southern Spain, Bolonia is meant to reflect the designs made in the sand and they are comfortable too! This collection made of galvanized steel, polyester powder coated which makes it weather-durable.
There was a constant line to sit in this one! The Folio Rocking chair is made of fiberglass resin, with a perforated square pattern and a matte finish. The high-back made it plenty comfortable for people of all heights.
