NeoCon is a show. To paraphrase Ed Sullivan, a really big show. Celebrating its 43rd year in Chicago’s Merchandise Mart, NeoCon is the premier design center for the newest products and innovative ideas for corporate, hospitality, healthcare, retail, government, institutional and residential interiors from more than 700 showrooms and exhibitors. And as my aching feet can attest, we did our best to see them all. Our day started with an inspiring talk from keynote speaker Matt Petersen, president and CEO of Global Green. Whereas Peter Byck, in his movie, “Carbon Nation,” addressed the matter of climate change with a little humor, Petersen shared how Global Green is harnessing Hollywood star power to call attention to this critical issue. He showed us a PSA featuring some of the movie industry’s elite who tell viewers that by the end of the century, major cities, including New Orleans, Miami, San Francisco and New York could see significant flooding—or even become completely submerged—by rising oceans caused by melting ice caps. He then asked everyone in the room to stand and repeat this statement: “I Love Read More…

  Have you ever heard of CCID? Neither had I until Sunday, June 12, but more about that later. It was our first day in Chicago for NeoCon. Our first order of business was Read More…

Traditions can be good things. Kendall College of Art and Design and NeoCon have a few in common. I’ll elaborate. First, 2011 will be the 16th year that Kendall students Read More…

  Last time I blogged, I wrote about the Kendall “Big D” design class that will be attending NeoCon in Chicago June 12–16. NeoCon is North Read More…

  If you live in Grand Rapids, no doubt you’ve heard of NeoCon. And if you have anything at all to do with the world of design, you’ve been to Read More…

The Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner was held Thursday, May 5 at the Grand Rapids Art Museum in downtown Grand Rapids. This Year’sHonorees were Gwen O’Brien, Read More…

Cheers and whistles greeted the 205 members of the class of 2011 as they entered the majestic sanctuary of Fountain Street Church, for commencement on May 7.  Friends, family, Read More…

  As anyone who attended Kendall (or any college for that matter) knows, the last two weeks of the semester are jam-packed putting the last minute touches on Read More…

      The Graphic Design Career Day was particularly interesting to me, watching the students dash in, juggling coffee, back packs and large Read More…

  The first clue that the Industrial Design Career Day at Kendall College of Art and Design was going to be a special day was the bright red Willys Jeep parked Read More…