Place, space, and community sit at the center of the International Interior Design Association’s (IIDA) guide for designers, manufacturers, and Chicago’s vibrant design community as they come June 9–11 to attend NeoCon 2025 and Fulton Market Design Days, one of the world’s largest gatherings of the interior design industry.
“Connectivity is a key part of NeoCon and Fulton Market Design Days, and IIDA is ready to celebrate this vibrant intersection of all things Design: designers, manufacturers, insights (and foresight!)—and a lot of truly wonderful design work for all of us to enjoy,” said IIDA Executive Vice President and CEO, Cheryl S. Durst, Hon. FIIDA. “IIDA is particularly proud to celebrate design in our own home city. Chicago is a renowned center for design, and the confluence of these two major events creates a centerpoint for the global design community. This Chicago Design Week, we hope to see all of you exploring, celebrating, and connecting around the joy-inducing practice that is design.”
Those attending “Chicago Design Week” shows within THE MART and Fulton Market District have a range of events to take part in and immerse themselves in the world of design. As a city that prides itself on the diversity of its built spaces, IIDA is also encouraging Chicago residents to explore these areas throughout the year. IIDA looks to continue elevating the city’s status as a global creative and economic hub for the interior design industry.
Leading up to and during much of NeoCon at THE MART and of Fulton Market Design Days, IIDA will be welcoming its members and the design industry at large. Their goal is to bring competitive flair to showcase design’s capabilities for the public, produce educational programming for practitioners, and rally the community within the profession and the industry it advocates for.
Saturday, June 7 and Sunday, June 8
Jurying of 21st Annual IIDA Showroom and Booth Design Competition: This design competition honors original interior design and the visual impact of showrooms, temporary booths, and pop-up exhibitors at NeoCon and Fulton Market Design Days with an emphasis on the innovative use of product, materials, space, color, texture, and environmental graphics. Entries will be reviewed onsite by a jury of influential design leaders and specifiers from the commercial interior design industry. All winning spaces will be exhibited throughout the show. Submissions are open from March 3 to May 30 on IIDA.org. Winning spaces will be exhibited throughout the NeoCon and Fulton Market Design Days’ shows, respectively. The Best of Competition winners for both shows will be announced and celebrated live during IIDA’s private black-tie event, Revel in Design, the evening of Sunday, June 8.
2025 IIDA Annual Meeting: The IIDA Annual Meeting is a yearly gathering for IIDA members to celebrate and connect in-person. Presented by IIDA Executive Vice President and CEO, Cheryl S. Durst, Hon. FIIDA, along with outgoing International Board of Directors President Erika Moody, FIIDA, the program includes the induction of the 2025 IIDA College of Fellows, 2025-26 International Board, as well as the presentation and celebration of IIDA’s International Honors and Awards. IIDA Members only. Time: 12 p.m. CST, Sunday, June 8. Location: WorkLife Meetings at THE MART, 222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 250.
Revel in Design: IIDA’s annual celebration event is hosted by IIDA Executive Vice President and CEO, Cheryl S. Durst, Hon. FIIDA, and features prominent international interior designers and global manufacturers gathering to celebrate global design professionals and the industry. The evening of powerhouse networking, delectable dining, and revelry will honor the winners of the 51th annual Interior Design Competition, the 32th annual Will Ching Design Competition. The Best of Competition for the Interior Design Competition and the 21th Annual IIDA Showroom and Booth Design Competition will be announced live during the private event. Individual tickets will go on sale May 2025 on IIDA.org. Time: 7 p.m. CST, Sunday, June 8. Location: Four Seasons Hotel Chicago, 120 E. Delaware Pl.
Monday, June 9
NeoCon Monday Keynote presented by IIDA: “Designing for Global Innovation.” Today, innovation in design is critical to the lifeblood of creators, and a top priority for clients and consumers alike. Creating and designing inclusive spaces and experiences doesn't happen by accident. Keynote speaker Annie Jean-Baptiste is a business disrupting tech executive who builds for the 21st century needs of consumers. She transforms companies into human centered, authentic brands that can tap into unlocked growth opportunities. She’s brought her forward-looking, data driven approach to game-changing products serving billions of customers globally. Her talk will demonstrate how designers of all kinds can leverage lived experiences to fuel innovation, creating more holistic experiences for everyone. IIDA’s Executive Vice President and CEO, Cheryl S. Durst, Hon. FIIDA will introduce Jean-Baptiste and lead the Q&A session. Programming registration is available to NeoCon attendees on NeoCon.com starting April 1. Time: 10 a.m. CST. Location: NeoCon Presentation Studio, THE MART, 222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 250.
Collective Design LIVE: How to Design a More Inclusive Future. IIDA’s Collective Design LIVE series brings together top minds in design who approach experiential design through a variety of lenses, from neuroscience to hospitality to future forecasting. Panelists will include: Jessica Bantom, Global Leader of Equity, Diversity, and Belong-ing, DLR Group; Erin Jennings, Market Leader, Luminaut; Tom Polucci, IIDA, AIA, Firmwide Director of Interiors, HOK; and Joey Shimoda, FIIDA, FAIA, Co-Founder and Partner, Shimoda Design Group. Moderated by Mark Bryan, IIDA, Senior Foresight Manager, Future Today Strategy Group. Programming registration available to NeoCon attendees on NeoCon.com starting April 1. Time: 11:30 a.m. CST. Location: NeoCon Presentation Studio, THE MART, 222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 250.
Fulton Market Design Days: IIDA will meet and greet its members, chapter leaders, NeoCon attendees, and the residents of Chicago as they gather and explore the West Loop area as a burgeoning design district. No registration required. Time: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. CST. Location: The corners of W. Fulton Market St. and W. Aberdeen St.
Tuesday, June 10
IIDA Student Design Charette: The annual IIDA Student Design Charette, performed during NeoCon, brings together students from across the nation for a day of design, collaboration, networking, problem-solving, and fun. The day of the Charette – students are assigned to a team, posed with a design challenge, given collaborative time to create a design solution, and then present it to a panel of esteemed jurors. Student attendees are privately nominated through IIDA’s network of design educators. Time: Charette will be from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. with the Charette Awards Ceremony immediately following in the same location. Location: THE MART, 222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 1132.
Fulton Market Design Days: IIDA will meet and greet its members, chapter leaders, NeoCon attendees, and the residents of Chicago as they gather and explore the West Loop area as a burgeoning design district. No registration required. Time: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. CST. Location: The corners of W. Fulton Market St. and W. Aberdeen St.
For more information on IIDA programming during NeoCon or to register for select events, visit IIDA.org.
ABOUT IIDA
IIDA is the commercial interior design association with global reach. We support design professionals, industry affiliates, educators, students, firms, and their clients through our global network of members across 58 countries. We advocate for advancements in education, design excellence, legislation, leadership, accreditation, and community outreach to increase the value and understanding of interior design as a profession that enhances business value and positively impacts the health and well- being of people’s lives every day.
