Our MiSA Perspectives series highlights the experiences and thought leadership of creative professionals in San Antonio, Texas. Read on as Joaquin Abrego, RID, NCIDQ, LEED ID+C, who is Principal of HIED Interior Design at PBK Architecture, shares his favorite corporate interiors products from NeoCon 2025 tradeshow in Chicago.
Since 1969, NeoCon has been the premier event for the commercial interior design industry, bringing together over 50,000 design professionals each June in Chicago. With more than 400 established and emerging brands showcasing thousands of innovative new products, NeoCon is the place where trends are set, ideas are exchanged, and the future of commercial design takes shape. With only three days to explore hundreds of showrooms and booths, it’s impossible to cover everything. Below are a few standout favorites from this year’s show.
JSI Furniture: Maglinx Connectors on the Satisse Chair
These patent-pending magnetic glide connectors create an incredibly strong magnetic bond which allow seating to be ganged together without any tools or hardware. The result? A clean, secure, and efficient solution for flexible seating arrangements—perfect for dynamic commercial spaces.
JSI Furniture: Pre-Bowed Tension Rod for Conference Tables
Inspired by the spring suspension system in semi-trucks, this innovative, patent-pending design allows for longer conference table spans without the need for central base support. It is a clever structural solution that maintains a sleek, uninterrupted table profile.
ArcCom Fabrics: Biodegradable Vinyl by Hyphyn
Not yet available online, this new product features 3 biodegradable performance vinyl collections. They include two solids (Pacific and Monteverde) with 300,000 double rubs, and one patterned design (Cloud Forest) with 225,000 double rubs. All are stain resistant textiles that incorporate an enzyme that activates in landfill conditions, enabling full degradation in under two years.
VS America: Stakki Stool
A long-time favorite, the Stakki Stool remains a standout for its form and function. Crafted from 100% recycled, scratch-resistant glass-fiber reinforced polypropylene, molded in a single piece, and weighs under 9 pounds. Lightweight, durable, and practical.
LightArt: 3D Printed Pendants
Coming October 2025, these sculptural light fixtures are crafted from plant-based PLA using 3D printing technology. Beautiful, sustainable, and a forward-thinking addition to architectural lighting options.
Trend Alert: Curves
Curved forms were everywhere this year—evident in organic-shaped tables, rounded markerboards, seating silhouettes, and workstation layouts. The industry’s continued shift toward softness, approachability, and human-centric design was clearly on display.
The Unexpected Star: BuzziSpace’s Pink Felt Swag Bag
Surprisingly, the breakout product was not a finish or piece of furniture—it was a bag. BuzziSpace’s round pink felt swag bag, made from their signature BuzziFelt material, became the must-have item at NeoCon. With a minimalist design and eye-catching color, the bag turned heads throughout the Merchandise Mart, Fulton Market, and even downtown Chicago. Within minutes of carrying it, I was stopped by over 20 people asking, “Where did you get that bag?” It became so popular, distribution had to be limited to showroom appointment holders only. A brilliant piece of branding—the buzz of the Mart, quite literally.
Joaquin Abrego, RID, NCIDQ, LEED ID+C, is Principal of HIED Interior Design at PBK Architecture, is a contributing writer for Modern in San Antonio, and sits on the 2025 M!SA Advisory Panel as Interior Design Adviser.