In partnership with the Design Museum of Chicago, NeoCon attendees are invited to experience INSIDE DESIGN, a curated series of exclusive, design-driven events throughout the city, each just a short ride from the Mart. These immersive experiences showcase and celebrate Chicago's vibrant creative community.
Programming registration is open
Sponsored by:
Home Court, Obama Presidential Center
Go behind the scenes of one of the most anticipated civic projects in the country with an inside look at the design and construction of Home Court at the Obama Presidential Center. Led by Moody Nolan architect Renauld Mitchell, this guided experience explores the architectural vision, design strategy, and build process behind the space.
Participants will gain insight into how the project moved from concept to construction, including key decisions around structure, materiality, and the role of the building within the broader campus. The tour offers a rare opportunity to experience the architecture up close while learning how design and construction teams collaborate to bring complex civic spaces to life.
Registration is required. Shuttle service from THE MART to the tour location will be provided.
Fee: $250
167 N. Green Street, Chicago, IL 60607
Explore how mission-driven spaces support artists and makers inside the creative environment of Good Chaos.
The program opens with a moderated panel examining the relationships between institutions and artists, the conditions that enable making, and the role of craft in shaping contemporary design culture.
The experience concludes with phased, small-group tours through the space, offering a closer view into the artisans’ work and process. Light bites and pastries will be served.
Speakers:
Olivia Juarez, Owner & Creative Director, Sculpturelandia
Remy Bordas, Owner & Creative Director, Sculpturelandia
Norman Teague, Owner and Designer, Norman Teague Design Studios
Daniel Overbey, Studio Manager, Norman Teague Design Studios
Nicole Alexander, Founder & Principal Designer, Siren Betty
Chris Force, Founder, Sixtysix Magazine
Registration is required. Attendees are responsible for their own transportation unless otherwise noted.
Fee: $150
Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Go behind the curtain at one of Chicago’s most celebrated cultural institutions. This intimate experience offers rare access to the creative disciplines that bring stories to life on stage—from set construction and costume design to lighting and spatial storytelling.
The program begins with a moderated panel featuring members of the design and production team, followed by a guided backstage tour. Light bites and beverages will be served. NeoCon attendees will receive a 10% discount to Catch As Catch Can performances June 4 - June 20.
Registration is required. Attendees are responsible for their own transportation unless otherwise noted.
Fee: $150
Art on the Farm in Grant Park
Explore how land, cultivation, and material experimentation inform contemporary design practice. Led by Urban Growers Collective CEO Erika Allen, this immersive workshop introduces participants to plant-based pigments and pattern-making using materials sourced directly from the farm.
Through a guided site tour, conversation, and hands-on demonstration, attendees will learn how plants traditionally grown for food can also become expressive design materials. The session highlights how natural pigments connect agriculture, sustainability, and material innovation—offering designers new ways to think about sourcing, process, and the life cycle of materials used in the built environment.
This experience invites architects, interior designers, and creatives to consider how design can begin with the land itself.
Registration is required. Attendees are responsible for their own transportation unless otherwise noted.
Fee: $150
