Starting Monday, June 9, Chicago’s design scene goes full throttle as thousands of professionals swarm The Merchandise Mart and the ever-hip streets of Fulton Market to chase down the hottest new stuff for commercial spaces.
NeoCon isn’t just big—it’s monstrous. Nearly 1 million square feet, 400+ brands, and four+ massive floors of furnishings, fabrics, flooring, fixtures, and accessories. Toss in another 50 showrooms and popups over in Fulton Market’s Design Days, and yeah—your step count’s about to explode.
While NeoCon's core is office design, don't be fooled—there’s a little something for everyone, including products for healthcare and senior living. And remember, there's a lot of office space in hospitals and clinics.
NeoCon and Design Days: Welcome to the Chaos
Here’s the truth: you’re not going to see everything. You’ll try. You’ll fail. The Mart alone is an architectural beast—each floor clocks in at 200,000 square feet. That’s like trying to binge-watch Netflix, Hulu, and Max at once. With a backpack.
Add in the elevator gridlock, the hallway gridlock, the foot pain, the brain fog—and yeah, you'll earn your after-hours cocktails. Luckily, there are plenty of those, usually with decent food and design gossip served on the side.
Permanent showrooms in The Mart aren’t what they used to be—some big dogs have packed up and moved out (looking at you, MillerKnoll and Steelcase). Floor 7’s still a madhouse of temporary exhibits, and if you can navigate the maze, it’s worth a visit.
How to Survive (and Maybe Even Enjoy) NeoCon and Design Days
You can do this. But you need a plan. Here’s your street-smart survival guide:
1. Own The Mart
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Make a hit list. Start with your must-sees—by floor. The NeoCon website lets you filter by vertical (hint: "healthcare" is your friend).
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Work top-down. Begin on Floor 11 and descend like a design-minded ninja. Elevators jam? Stairs are your best friend (going down, that is).
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Use the right elevators. Orleans Street side = bigger, faster, stops at every key floor. Don’t waste your day waiting mid-building like a rookie.
2. Fulton Market Like a Pro
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Weather check. Rain? Stay at The Mart. Sunshine? Fulton Market’s your playground.
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Shuttles > Ubers. There’s a free shuttle from the Wells Street side of The Mart. Time it right and avoid the surge pricing.
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Factor in the hike. It's not a breezy stroll between The Mart and Fulton. Plan for transit time—or risk missing half your day.
3. Pack Smart, Dress Smarter
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Shoes matter. Cute is cool, but comfort wins. Rotate your shoes daily. Your feet will thank you.
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Layers, people. The Mart is an arctic tundra by mid-morning. Bring a fleece, blazer, or stylish jacket so you’re not hugging the coffee urn for warmth.
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Skip the suits. NeoCon fashion = business casual with flair. Think clean jeans, sharp tops, and bold accessories.
4. Don’t Skip the Details
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Register before you get there. It’s free for both NeoCon and Design Days, but do it ahead of time. Saves time. Saves sanity.
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Eat. Sleep. Repeat. You can’t sprint through NeoCon hangry. Floor 7 usually has snacks, the food court on 2 got a facelift, and Fulton Market is basically a foodie’s dream. Also: hydrate.
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Check out the extras. Daily keynotes, CEUs, and special sessions run all week. There's even a dedicated healthcare track, streaming live and on-demand through October 1. And some fun interactive installations and immersive experiences.
5. Bonus Pro Tip
Want to know what products are making waves in healthcare design? Be at The Mart lobby at 7:30 a.m. Monday, June 9 to see the Best of NeoCon Award winners announced live. Or stream it with coffee from bed—no judgment.
Fun Fact (Because You're Still Reading)
NeoCon = “National Exposition of Contract [Furniture].” Now it’s just one word, like Madonna or Beyoncé. Want the full backstory? There’s a 50-year retrospective with all the juicy history.
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