Products That Created Connection During Chicago Design Week

Carrie’s Fulton Market Pick: Spinneybeck + Søuld Fragments Eelgrass Acoustic Wall Tiles

“Spinneybeck’s eelgrass acoustic tiles are composed of the offcuts from Danish materials developer Søuld’s full-sheet panel process, so no harvested plant materials are wasted. The eelgrass has many fascinating qualities: It’s renewable and nontoxic; it regulates moisture; it stores carbon; and it allows the tiles to achieve an NRC of 0.7. They’re also able to be returned and repurposed into all-new material sheets. What’s more, the tile delivers an immersive biophilic element with its unique texture, natural color variation, and the subtle hint of driftwood and seawater scent it brings to the interior space.”

Lauren’s NeoCon Pick: Alfonso Verduzco x WVH ALMA Collection Wall Treatment

“ALMA filled a gap I often see in the wall panel market. While many surface products emphasize pattern or performance, few successfully incorporate recognizable cultural heritage and material storytelling in a way that feels timeless rather than trend-driven. Designer Alfonso Verduzco’s approach for WVH creates an emotional connection through familiar references to craft and place in Mexican culture, proving that acoustical solutions can also carry narrative depth and architectural presence. It was one of the most memorable examples of heritage-inspired design I encountered during Chicago Design Week.”

Carrie’s NeoCon Pick: Wolf-Gordon’s ‘achimwi’ Curatorial Wall Collection with Lenape Center

“With each Curatorial Projects collection, Wolf-Gordon chief creative officer Marybeth Shaw employs passion and storytelling to explore the relationships between art, community, traditions, cultural values, and human connection. ‘Achimwi’ (which in Lenape means ‘to tell a story,’ per Shaw’s explanation) is a powerful example.

Produced in collaboration with four Lenape artists, the wallcovering collection translates cultural symbolism into patterns rich with color, shading, texture, and emotion. Details such as raised ink and smart pattern cut-points show care for meaning and application. I was especially drawn to the heart-calling chickadees in ‘Messengers’ by Joe Baker (nearby insets) and the beadwork-inspired movement of Annette Ketchum’s ‘Garland’ (above).”

Robert’s Fulton Market Design Days Pick: HON Scribble Chair

“I loved HON’s Scribble chair for educational spaces because it treats movement and sensory input as part of the learning experience, not a distraction. Concealed beneath the seat pan is a set of raised, curvilinear lines that offer a tactile detail that I think kids who are neurodivergent would find soothing. Paired with Scribble’s flexible seat pan and back, the chair reflects a larger push toward constructing inclusive environments that support every student. It’s great to see thoughtful design details like this that aren’t necessarily visual but impactful nevertheless.”

Robert’s NeoCon Pick: Able Chair by Scandinavian Spaces

“One of our pre-Chicago discussions centered around whether we’d observe a greater awareness of designing for product end-of-life. What I appreciated about the Able chair by Scandinavian Spaces is that they made no attempt to hide the fact that this chair is made for disassembly. The bolts are in plain sight, and upholstery is removed via zippers when it’s time to replace or repair. Its understated design, multiple configurations, and a variety of finishes can also stand up to demands for versatility and timelessness. Accompanying tables round out this sustainability-forward offering.”

Lauren’s Honorable Mention: Focal Point Saros Duo LED Luminaire

“As awareness of circadian rhythm and holistic health continues to influence healthcare design, products like Saros Duo demonstrate how lighting has evolved beyond visible illumination alone. Hospitals are increasingly expected to apply evidence-backed design to promote healing, reduce stress, and support staff performance, and adaptive lighting is becoming a critical part of that equation. Focal Point’s Saros Duo luminaire stood out because it addresses both clinical needs and human comfort, illustrating how evidence-based design is reshaping patient environments into spaces that respond to people throughout the course of the day.”

Carrie’s Honorable Mention: Designtex Collection Preview – ‘Slow Color’

“Textile and graphic designer Alisa Benfey’s artistic collaboration with Designtex will be worth the wait until its September launch. Pun intended: ‘Slow Color’ invites appreciation for artisanry that stands the test of time—and takes time—much like the ‘slow food’ and ‘slow fashion’ movements. Drawing on her upbringing in Tokyo, Benfey used traditional hands-on dyeing techniques and botanical impressions to create dreamy, organic patterns in expressive hues that Designtex will offer printed on demand as wallcoverings and upholstery. The samples felt charismatic and centering, encouraging a longer look at biophilic design’s meaningful layers.”

Robert’s Honorable Mention: Heller’s MB Collection Chair

“We hear the word ‘innovation’ thrown around quite a bit, but Heller’s latest MB Collection chair earns that label. The manufacturer has managed to take recycled plastic and turn it into playful and durable indoor/outdoor furniture with real circularity implications. By adding an enzyme to its materiality, the chair is designed to become 95% biodegradable in landfill-like conditions, rather than leaving a greater footprint as microplastic waste. That’s what I call the power of good design.”