NeoCon 2010

We’re still flush from our trip to NeoCon in Chicago - forgive us, it was heaven.

The keynote speaker was Yves Behar. He’s Swiss, he works in San Fransisco, and he makes some amazing things. His keynote was pretty special, as well. The topic was Design in the Age 360º.

Essentially, Behar’s point was that new designers had to work between two poles. One pole was personal expression; what you wanted to say, how you wanted to say it, your own taste and decisions. The other was modern technology, the cutting edge of modern design. In a sense, you have to navigate between what you love and what your buyers (clients, users, etc.) need and will find useful.

It’s bold for a designer, especially one as high profile as Behar, to come out even a little bit on the side of the buyer rather than that of the creator, but it’s the right thing to do. We like to think Smart Furniture does it every day. The address was refreshing and apt, and Behar has securely caught our attention as a guy to look out for.