Offices increasingly integrate welcoming spaces for workers to settle beyond the traditional desk – even at ultra-corporate businesses like law firms, as several manufacturers noted – requiring that casual chairs and sofas find a balance between relaxed residential style and the rigidity of traditional office products. Manufacturers are improving ergonomics while shifting towards more casual styles and softer silhouettes. 

A growing crop of products flex according to individual preferences and the day’s distinct work modes (see stats below). Key examples include a sofa with a backrest that can move up or down as privacy requirements shift, a desk that lets its occupant toggle between focused work and collaboration, and more mobile products for easy space reconfiguration.

Several brands showcased innovative task chairs, including one that scored NeoCon’s Best of Competition award and another that folds for easy storage. Manufacturers are also advancing their sustainability credentials in this category.

Contract furniture companies are making steady advances in sustainable design, a dominant theme at last year’s NeoCon. From chairs to office pods, a key strategy centres on developing easily replaceable components, extending product longevity. Elsewhere, innovations include a seating system 3D-printed from biodegradable materials, and flooring that incorporates upcycled shoes.