Our Favorite Products from NeoCon
We had a great time at this year’s NeoCon! We had a chance to learn about and experience some of the latest innovations that solve common problems in the workplace and we want to share them with you. Here are our top 10 favorite products…
1. Via Seating, Copper Mesh Collection – Problem to Solve: Germs in the Workplace
There’s no denying that Covid has made us aware of germs. Things we never gave a second thought to before are now the things that will keep employees from returning to the office, and even though companies have started transitioning into hybrid work environments and other creative solutions, there is one thing absolutely all of us still need no matter where we work: A comfortable chair. Via Seating has some of the most comfortable we found at NeoCon, but it doesn’t end there. On top of great ergonomics and being great looking, these chairs also have a patented copper infused mesh that kills harmful microorganisms, are antiviral, antifungal and anti-odor. Oh! and copper has self-sanitizing properties but is also bleach cleanable. So, in our book, this chair ticks all the boxes for the post-covid work life. Learn more here: https://viaseating.com/series/copper-mesh-collection/
2. Patcraft – Problem to Solve: Environmentally friendly products
When it comes to flooring there was a clear winner for us at NeoCon: Patcraft. As soon as we walked into their showroom we could see a clear concept, vibrant color palettes and creative patterns. Their Deconstructed Form Collection has beautifully executed geometrics and the Create in Space Collection has a soft, artistic touch that we found refreshing and inviting. But the highlight for us was their new Dichroic Collection. This innovative felt-like material has the durability of a hard surface but offers the warmth of carpet. It is constructed from recycled PET bottles – 18 ½ of them are recycle for every 24”x24” tile to be precise and is manufactured in a carbon neutral facility. We definitely noticed a heavy trend on environmentally friendly products this year and Patcraft did not disappoint with this exciting new product! Learn more here: https://www.patcraft.com/product-collection/OQ
3.Dependable Form – Problem to solve: Space Dividing in Open Offices
We love stumbling into new brands, this is actually one of the main reasons why we attend NeoCon and this year did not disappoint. Dfm is a San Francisco based company with some pretty cool products. Our favorite was Cubed, which is a wireframe system that can be used for endless purposes in today’s open office areas. It can be configured to serve as a bookshelf, a media center, lockers, and general storage, or all the above. It can even have planters! With its modular construction, this versatile piece can serve as a partition between two spaces that serve different purposes while providing privacy and creating separation without having to erect walls or interfere with HVAC systems. It’s the best of both worlds: Form and Function. Learn more here: https://www.dependablefm.com/products/cubed
4. Acoustic Solutions – Problem to Solve: Bad acoustics
Lately, more and more of our clients have asked us to improve the acoustics in their office space and we have become quite invested in all thing’s acoustics, so we were excited to see a couple products in action at NeoCon this year. There is no denying that Zintra has one of the most visually attractive lines out there. This year’s highlight for us was their Sticks product line with wood grain- printed felt that can deceive even the most trained eye. Their wall and ceiling applications are a great addition to any design with an almost perfect NRC of .95 this is a great solution for echo-y spaces. Learn more here: https://zintraacoustic.com/products/new-releases/sticks-transition-portrait/
Another product that quite literally blew our minds was Snowsound. While we were in their showroom, we had a real-life demonstration of how well their Mitesco panels and Snowsound Fabric works. We went into an empty room with white walls, polished concrete floor, and a glass door. While we were inside the room our voices were echoing and it was very hard to understand each other. Our guide then rolled out two curtains made of Snowsound Fabric and brought in a few Mitesco panels and OH THE DIFFERENCE! It was amazing to witness the instant improvement in the acoustics of the room. See some videos demonstrating this effect here: https://www.snowsoundusa.com/resources/videos/#mg
5. OFS- Problem to Solve: Space division in offices / Attractive Office and Lounge Furniture
“What you make people feel is as important as what you make” – Hank Menke. Well, we couldn’t agree more! We felt instantly relaxed as soon as we walked into OFS’s showroom at NeoCon. With neutral colors, creative shapes and soft fabrics, every piece was inviting, like it was impossible for us not to experience it. After sitting in a Heya privacy hub and relaxing at the Lean-To lounge, we came across Obeya. This is a modular system that allows the user to create “spaces” whether that be a meeting room that hosts 8 people or a phone booth for 1, the possibilities are endless. With options for walls, ceilings, benches, planters, tables, and lighting to customize your own, Obeya would be a great addition to an open office or training center where privacy is required but also group work is necessary. Learn more here: https://ofs.com/products/space-defining/privacyacoustical/obeya
6. Miran – Problem to Solve: Open Floor Plan Space Division
Another great NeoCon discovery for us this year was a group of creative individuals called Miran. They came up with a pretty innovative product called FoCol which is a modular dividing system made out of wood and felt slats. A grouping of a few slats creates a wall segment, and each segment connects to another segment to create an articulated partition wall. These walls can be shaped like a half circle, a wavy line, an oval and other interesting configuration that can be used to create meeting rooms, work stations, break rooms, collaboration spaces… you name it! Thanks to its wood construction and felt inserts, FoCol has great acoustical properties that are key to keeping meetings private and minimizing noises coming from outside. Find out more here: https://miranspaces.com/focol/
7. HAT Collective – Problem to Solve: Collaboration Spaces and Ergonomics
At TeamPAR, we have witnessed the increased popularity of height adjustable desks in the last couple of years. We have no doubt that they have become the preferred option for offices since they give their users the ability to adjust to their specific body requirements, however, HAT Collective showed us a new spin on the height adjustable desk with their M Quad by SIS Ergo. This 4-person table has an individual height adjustable mechanism for each occupant so everyone can modify the height to their liking. We are all for providing employees with options that will have a positive impact in their health, comfort and ultimately, performance. Learn more here: https://www.hatcollective.com/products/m-quad/
8. Montisa – Problem to solve: Good design and quality furniture
Another fresh brand we came across at NeoCon is Montisa. This is an American brand born in a barn in 1906. Above all, they pride themselves on making good quality furniture meant to withstand the test of time. In fact, they are so sure of the quality of their materials that they engrave each furniture piece with the year it was made so their users can look back and one day realize they’ve had that piece for 10 years and it still looks great! Montisa has an uncomplicated aesthetic and a warm industrial feel that is understated and practical without forgetting fun pops of color and playful design details. Proof of their playful spirit is the fact that all their furniture lines are named after famous music legends like the Elton stool or the Clapton desk, they even have a playlist for each product on their website. You can listen and learn more here: https://hellomontisa.com/about
9. Outdoor Furniture – Problem to Solve: Quality and Innovative outdoor furniture
As we navigate the waters of the post-covid world, we have noticed an increased interest in utilizing outdoor spaces. Honestly, for years we’ve been big proponents of the physical and mental health benefits that nature has in humans, so this is music to our ears. Facility managers are increasingly looking for ideas on how to bring people outside and after NeoCon, we have some fresh ones. The first one is from FormaSpace, a manufacturer of custom contract furniture located in the heart of Austin, Texas. They came up with a very interesting bench-planter-bar that seems like a single metal profile was bent in a zig-zag, a true 3-in-1 product that we loved. Learn more here: https://formaspacecontract.com/ Another great solution was Falcon’s Sedera Side Chairs and Multipurpose Tables, these are a great solution for outdoor cafeterias, or they can even be used to hold meetings outside on a beautiful day. Their thin profiles and modern colors make them timeless and versatile. Learn more here: https://www.falconproducts.com/products/seating/metal-chairs/sedera-side-chair
10. Wellness in the Office – Problem to Solve: Movement and Ergonomics in the office
We spend most of our days at work, no matter where we work chances are that a great deal of a person’s day is spent on a chair or on their feet. We think it’s important to provide employees with options that help alleviate the strain of holding the same posture for long periods of time as well as give them the chance to stay active during the day. We came across a few solutions at NeoCon that we think would be a great addition to any workplace. One of them is AFS-TEX which stands for Anti-Fatigue Systems, and they offer everything from mats to footrests to balance boards and everything in between. All these solutions are designed to provide relief in pressure points of the body and allowing the person to engage in some movement preventing physical fatigue. Learn more here: https://www.floortex.com/usa-afs-tex-anti-fatigue-mats . Another great find was the bike chair by Locktek. Pedaling tables are not new to us, in fact we have one in our own office because we believe in the benefits of staying active throughout the day, but the bike chair is innovative in the sense that it is not attached to a table, allowing any table to become a pedaling workstation. Now, a company can decide to acquire two or three pedaling chairs and keep them in a common space and employees can bring them to their own table and pedal for a while and return them when they are done. Learn more here: http://loctek.us/product-category/office-exercise-bike/
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