Comfortability & Flexibility in Workspaces – Reflecting on Design Days & NeoCon 2026

Each year, the Circadia team attends Design Days and the NeoCon Conference to immerse ourselves in the latest trends shaping the future of design. Our team returns inspired with fresh ideas, standout products and innovative solutions that help us bring even greater value to every client project.

This year, one theme echoed throughout nearly every showroom: flexibility and flow. From biophilic materials and natural textures to innovative seating technologies, our team observed an industry-wide shift toward creating spaces that prioritize wellbeing, comfort and adaptability. These insights reinforce the importance of designing environments that not only look exceptional but also support the people who use them every day.

We sat down with team members Lauren, Wendy, Kate, Christy, Danelle and Bryan to hear about the standout showrooms, the inspiring textures and materials that caught their attention, and the memorable moments that made this year's trip one to remember.

Explore the full Q&A with our team.

Q1: Did anything at NeoCon or Design Days literally stop you in your tracks?

Lauren: The JSI Showroom! It was the best.

Wendy: The new KI chair that rocks and rotates.

Kate: Loved the collaborative lounge seating arrangement from Kimball – perfect for when you’re tight on space, but still need a lounge.

Christy: The KI  Cognet Technology in the Kiaura Collection™  & West Elm Waverly Collection.

Danelle: I absolutely LOVED the Takeform showroom! I literally could have stayed in that showroom all day, taking in every detail of their creative design. The showroom was established as a 1970s department store. They showcased their abilities as a signage company in such a creative way that it was inspirational and made me want to use them for all of our signage work! They even incorporated their own employees as models for their makeshift record store on the covers of the albums. It was so cool! I was able to compliment the VP of Creative Design. He shared that their team of about 40 designers was divided into smaller teams, and each individual team took a “department” within the store concept to create. Each was given a color palette, and they ran with it. Love!

Q2: What trends kept popping up across all the showrooms you visited?

Lauren: Comfortable, collaborative, and flexible pieces.

Wendy: Expanded Lounge Seating.

Kate: Flexibility of the workstation to promote collaboration as well as individual respite.

Christy: Conference tables, shapes, and how they connect to technology. A lot of soft, rounded corners.

Danelle:  There was a definite pattern in 2026 of soft, earth tone color pallets. In 2025, I felt that the colors were more vibrant, like deep purples and deep mauves. This year, colors were much more down-to-earth with natural tones - light browns, soft greens, a lot of blue hues and lighter yellows, etc. Another pattern noticed was mixed textures. You would see a wooden texture on the back of a chair, mixed with a fabric for the seat, two-toned at best. This added to the earth tones and biophilia being brought into the spaces all over NeoCon / Design Days.

Bryan: Biophilic design continues to be one of the most consistent trends across the showrooms. A lot of natural wood finishes and nature-inspired details are woven into everything. Even something as small as coasters designed to look like cross-sections of a tree trunk. There's a good amount of research right now, particularly in K-12 and higher education, showing that connecting students to natural elements has a measurable impact on focus, stress levels, and overall well-being. The industry is definitely paying attention to that. One of my favorite small details was the flower stitching on the sofa in the Kimball showroom.

Q3: Was there a product or collection that was an instant favorite?

Lauren: Steelcase Aisla & Kimball flipping/nesting training table with power.

Kate: Aisla from Steelcase, the finish options are beautiful – especially the different glass options!

Christy: West Elm Waverly Collection, excited for new West Elm products!

Danelle: I loved the mixture of Davis with the Momentum textiles and fabrics. It was a fabulous showroom that displayed their abilities and the capabilities of both products very nicely!

Bryan: The Kiaura Collection from KI. The chair does something that's genuinely hard to describe until you experience it. It truly moves with you. It moves with you in a way that actually feels responsive and intuitive from the first second you are in it. I sat down and immediately knew this was the chair I needed to sit in at the office.

Q4: How do you filter what you're seeing on these showroom floors through the lens of what our clients actually need?

Lauren: I walked through each showroom looking for what my clients would want me to show them.

Wendy: I work to determine the value a solution might bring to a client – I consider the reliability of the manufacturer, contract pricing availability, etc.

Kate: I focus on standout, high-impact elements that deliver more than just visual appeal. When evaluating products for client investment, I prioritize solutions that are both innovative in function and strong in aesthetics.

Danelle:  Keeping in mind what their typical buying trends are, while also slipping in new product ideas on occasion when the opportunity presents itself. You can tell during the discussion when a client might be ready for a shift in their thinking or a slight change in a design. This is a good chance to share a new learning experience from NeoCon/Design Days!

Bryan: The show can definitely be overwhelming, and I found myself trying to imagine being in the shoes of my clients in the education space. There are so many new products and a lot of beautiful things that wouldn’t necessarily survive on campus. I kept coming back to the same questions: Who is actually going to sit in this? Who is going to clean it? What does durability, cleanability, stackability, warranty, and budget look like for my clients?

Q5: Outside of the showrooms, what was your best meal, moment, or memory from this trip?

Lauren: Hands down, the dinner with our team and clients at RPM Italian.  One of our clients lives in Chicago and made the best selections and recommendations at dinner.

Wendy: First night dinner with our Circadia team.

Kate: I always value the networking opportunities - meeting people you typically only connect with virtually is always a highlight.

Christy: I loved collaborating with the team.

Danelle: Diplo! Thanks to one of our manufacturer reps, we had the opportunity to check out the House of Blues and listen to some fantastic tunes! Also, spending time with colleagues and clients and getting to know them better on trips is always a positive experience and helps to create lasting memories!

Bryan: What I'll take away from this trip is the time spent with colleagues and clients. I genuinely enjoy being around them. There's something about Chicago that pulls people out of professional mode and into real conversation. It comes at a time when most of the industry is off the clock (at least not behind the computer screen), so the work slows down a bit for everyone. I think that aspect makes it easier to relax and be more present.

Design Insights for the Future

Conferences like Design Days and NeoCon are more than a showroom visit for the Circadia team. They are an annual opportunity to explore emerging trends, discover innovative products, strengthen relationships with industry partners, and bring fresh perspectives back to the clients and communities we serve.

Throughout the week, conversations consistently centered on biophilic design, calming neutral palettes and furniture that promote comfort, flexibility and collaboration. From ergonomic seating to adaptable workspaces, these trends reflect the evolving needs of today's work, education and healthcare spaces. By staying at the forefront of design innovation, Circadia is able to recommend solutions that create healthier, more engaging and future-ready environments for our clients.

Learn more about Circadia's human-centered approach to innovative workplace design at circadia.net.