KI shines at the Best of NeoCon, with two Tributaire triumphs — and the debut of Infinity Work Pods and Sonrisa Lounge
by Danine Alati
Over the past year, KI has observed significant shifts in the modern workplace, leading to the debut of three innovative new collections at NeoCon 2024. The company made a notable impact, entering 10 submissions into the Best of NeoCon competition and earning two prestigious awards. The comprehensive Tributaire Collection of tables clearly left the greatest impact on the Best of NeoCon judges, and as a result won two Silver Awards.
“The KI Tributaire Collection offers a comprehensive and sustainable suite of furniture designed for collaboration,” says one juror who reviewed the Silver Award-winning Tributaire Conference Room Furniture. “Cohesive design language, sustainable materials, and functional integration unify the collection, catering to corporate or educational environments [that need] a balance between function, aesthetics, and versatility. Multiple finishes, flexible configurations, and beautiful details enhance its appeal, while shared components minimize manufacturing waste.”
KI also introduced the versatile Sonrisa lounge collection in Lounge Furniture Collections and Seating: Sofas and Lounge categories. Additionally, KI unveiled its Infinity Work Pod, reflecting the evolving needs of today’s office landscape.
“Flexibility and adaptability are common threads supporting changing workstyles, whether collaborative, individual, or hybrid, and being able to respond quickly to user needs and uncertainty,” explains Angela Allen, KI’s director of product marketing. “KI’s solutions prioritize user well-being, resonating with the Best of NeoCon jurors.”
Tables: Cafe, Conference, Height-Adjustable, Occasional, Task (Silver Award), and Training; Collections for Collaboration; and Conference Room Furniture (Silver Award)
Created by designer Shawn Barrett in collaboration with KI product manager Melissa Jorgenson, the Tributaire Collection exemplifies Barrett’s design philosophy of “dynamic simplicity.” He aims to solve user problems minimally while adding excitement through proportionality.
Inspired by tributaries—streams or rivers flowing into a larger body of water—Barrett designed the table legs to flow fluidly, mirroring nature. “Tributaire’s clean, proportional design felt comfortable and light, with wonderful conversion and flexible properties. Innovation in these features was also a plus,” notes one juror.
Another juror praises the cohesive design, stating, “The leg detail is wonderful; it brings a unified aesthetic. The flexibility and adaptability to different layouts is on point with current workplace trends.”
While KI’s two award winners, the Tributaire Conference Table and Tributaire Task Table, share a sophisticated and simple aesthetic, they differ slightly in style. The conference table, available in three shapes with power options, features the collection’s signature leg detail. The task table, a durable post-leg table, comes with low-profile glides or casters and offers numerous options, including nine tabletop styles and PET felt or laminate modesty panels.
The Tributaire Collection’s supreme sophistication, extreme versatility, and effortless reconfiguration distinguish it from other products in this category. Highlighting KI’s goal with this new line, Allen says, “We continually hear from our customers and specifiers the need for flexible solutions that can adapt to evolving needs, last the test of time, and have aesthetics that elevate a space. We identified a gap in the market for such solutions and aimed to create a smart, cohesive system that uses and reuses common parts, reducing manufacturing waste, and lowering the environmental footprint.”
The Tributaire Collection meets all these requirements, which is validated by its two Best of NeoCon Awards that underscore its success and innovation. Jurors note, “The finish and material options, and price point make Tributaire very appealing . . . I appreciate the product integration overall, and I like that it’s a beautiful design and mobile, creating a lot of flexibility in an open space.”
Acoustics & Privacy: Work Pods
Described by one Best of NeoCon juror as “an interesting departure from a normal ‘pod,” the Infinity Work Pods are redefining flexible, adaptable workspaces by addressing privacy and acoustic needs in an innovative way. “Infinity Work Pods support hybrid work environments through integrated technology and privacy, while also being able to flex to changing group sizes and needs,” explains Allen.
Created by the Infinity From KI design team, these work pods feature clean lines, premium materials, and highly customizable finishes. The pods also offer ingenious scalability: With the touch of a button, the Infinity Work Pod can expand from accommodating two or three people to being optimized for four to six. What’s more, the interior furniture pieces (inside the pod) are mobile, adjustable, and highly flexible, allowing for efficient reconfiguration.
With the Work Pod category being fairly new in the Best of NeoCon competition, it’s exciting to see the introduction of such cutting-edge products. For example, the Infinity Work Pod’s unique form and materiality, coupled with its customizable and adaptable space, cater to a diverse range of sensory sensitivities. By incorporating acoustic solutions, biophilic design, and privacy components, the Infinity Work Pod helps to reduce workplace stress and promote a more relaxed environment.
One Best of NeoCon judge, who evaluated the Infinity Work Pod, says, “The telescopic pod ability is very cool. And I’m curious to see how often people would use this movability in a pod.”
Lounge Furniture Collections and Seating: Sofas & Lounge
KI’s Sonrisa Collection of lounge furniture strikes an elegant balance between casual comfort and sophisticated style. With a soft, contoured design and a compact footprint, Sonrisa lounge chairs, loveseats, benches, and ottomans are crafted to optimize space utilization while maintaining ergonomic support, offering a small yet accommodating seat that caters to how individuals choose to sit.
Each model within the collection can be specified with either a stationary base—equipped with black poly feet and adjustable glides—or a fully mobile base with black casters. The lounge chairs and loveseats are available with or without arms and offer additional options, including black poly feet with adjustable glides and black poly rollers with lean-back activation. The Sonrisa collection also provides an extensive range of upholstery choices, allowing for non-contrasting or contrasting fabrics for the seat, seat/base, or outside back; ottomans have contrasting seat options, as well. These design elements and customizable options ensure maximum flexibility, along with ease of mobility and maneuverability.
Designed with the education sector in mind, the KI design team conducted extensive research and created this lounge collection to effectively address the needs of teachers, librarians, faculty, and students. Named after the Spanish word for “smile,” Sonrisa is offered at a cost-effective price point, adding to its appeal.
One juror from the Best of NeoCon praises the collection for its “flexibility of colors, patterns, and thread details,” highlighting its suitability for higher education environments. Other jurors appreciate Sonrisa’s “kit-of-parts approach to design and flexibility,” describing the collection as a “valuable addition to the market.” Another juror notes that Sonrisa represents a “great affordable option for various sectors with budget constraints.”
Danine Alati is a contract industry writer and editor with over 20 years experience and is an associate project manager with the Best of NeoCon product competition.