by Danine Alati
Davis Furniture had quite a NeoCon in 2024. Bringing to market a range of products—and entering into the Best of NeoCon Awards competition not one, not two, but a whopping 12 furniture introductions—Davis took home an impressive seven awards. What was it about these new products that resonated so much with the Best of NeoCon jurors? After consulting with the teams that judged Davis’ submissions, it’s clear why some of these newly debuted offerings created such a splash and made Davis one of the companies to earn the most awards in the 2024 competition.
Read on to see how these Davis products demonstrate quality craftsmanship, durability, supreme functionality, and exceptional aesthetics to distinguish themselves among the sea of new product offerings at this year’s NeoCon.
Arcular won a Gold Award in Lounge Furniture Collections
Designed by the renowned Italian studio LucidiPevere, the Arcular Modular Lounge Collection epitomizes form and function. With elegant curves and soft geometry, its robust plywood and steel frame construction is clad with tailored upholstery over soft foam for maximum comfort. Integrated power options enhance Arcular’s functionality. The Arcular line includes a single-seat lounge chair; two- and three-seater sofas; and a variety of modular units like left- and right-end units, straight connectors, and 45- and 90-degree corner units. Arcular’s customizable base options of polished aluminum or more than 35 Davis powder-coat colors, plus its exceptional durability, add to the product’s longevity and limit its environmental impact.
“It’s a beautiful collection with a lot of customization capabilities. I love the curves of the piece, the optionality seems specification friendly, and I appreciate multiple leg color choices. The ability to customize the width of the straight sections is a standout feature.” –Best of NeoCon jury
Vida Shelving earned a Silver Award in the Storage category
Davis made history when it first partnered with German designer Hanne Willmann on the Vida Table collection in 2023 because it was the first time in the company’s history that it worked with a female industrial designer. Their partnership proved so successful that they decided to expand the line with the well-received Vida Shelving Series.
With its refined blend of soft geometry and high-quality materials, Vida Shelving shines as a modern showpiece, yet its two height options (a three-shelf and five-shelf version), its solid steel structure (available in all of Davis’ powder coat finishes), and shelves in ash, oak and walnut veneers and Fenix Innovative Materials with a reverse bevel edge make this gorgeous piece also highly functional.
“This Vida storage piece is a great option with its soft lines and variety of color and finish options. The design complements a table already in the line, giving it the ability to be part of a family or a nice standalone option. The piece is well engineered with shelves being BIFMA-tested for weight capacity.” — a Best of NeoCon juror
Hanne Willmann designed the Ottanna chair series, winning a Silver Award
Expanding on its relationship with German industrial designer Hanne Willmann, creative director of Studio Hanne Willmann, Davis asked her to create the new Ottanna Chair Series. Both the swivel chair (conference) and four-leg chair (guest) versions are crafted from an organically formed steel frame embedded in rigid urethane molded foam—a sustainable manufacturing method that lowers carbon emissions—to ensure durability and comfort. The award-winning conference chair boasts a five-star aluminum base with swivel/tilt, height-adjustable mechanisms, and an optional back lock feature. The guest and multipurpose chair features a four-leg base crafted from tubular steel, available in Davis’ powder coat finishes. “The undulated back and rounded base responds to the actual trend in the workplace design,” notes one juror. “The design of the base is also very sleek and delicate, something that is not common in this type of chair.”
“The Ottanna conference chair throws out the bulky stereotype, prioritizing hospitality and aesthetics with its softer, feminine design. Seamlessly integrated cantilever arms offer support without sacrificing clean lines, while the height-adjustable seat with a locking mechanism ensures personalized comfort.” — a Best of NeoCon juror
The UpToo Laptop table took the Gold Award in Workplace Accessories
Frequent collaborators with Davis Furniture, German design duo jehs+laub has created another outstanding product with the UpToo Laptop Table. By expertly blending functionality in the form of height-adjustability for ergonomic comfort and a sleek, playful aesthetic with diverse material and color options, jehs+laub not only created another award-winning product with UpToo, but this “cute little table,” according to one judge, also earned a score of a perfect 10 from the Best of NeoCon jury team.
“This is a very sleek design and unique product in the industry. I love how the design is so simple but sophisticated. The UpToo table boasts beautiful design details, particularly the seamless way the post meets the sculptural aluminum base. Functionality is also a highlight, with an adjustable-height mechanism that allows for various configurations; an ingenious handle, easily located by touch, makes height adjustments a breeze . . . I can’t wait to specify this table.” — Best of NeoCon jury
Tile won the Silver for Seating: Stools
The Davis Design Team created the highly flexible Tile Stool and Table solution to transition seamlessly between the two applications. Ideal for today’s changing workplace landscape, Tile addresses the need for multipurpose furniture that does not compromise design or comfort. The product’s thoughtful design features highly functional details, such as the glide and nesting bumper on the top’s edge, which allows users to grip and move the stool effortlessly. Tile’s tapered cast aluminum base—available in polished aluminum or over 35 powder coat hues—stacks with ease for quick and effortless reconfiguration, efficient storage, and saving space.
“The Tile stool/table is simple and beautiful . . . I love the substantial weight, but movability, of this product. The curved edge makes for a nice, soft grip on the hand when picking up and relocating the piece . . . I appreciate the variety of finish options, which would make this applicable to a variety of settings.” — Best of NeoCon jury
Turme earned the Gold Award as the best Communal Table
Designed by Daniel Wehrli, the minimalist-yet-striking Turme Table features a well-proportioned interplay of planes to create a visually appealing “showpiece,” as the jurors say. The exposed joinery and high-quality materials reflect this table’s craftsmanship. Available in sustainably sourced solid wood, ash, oak, walnut veneers, and FENIX Innovative Materials, the bar-height Turme Table promotes communication, being the perfect height to foster eye contact and encourage people to engage. Ideal for bars, cafes, collaborative workspaces, and working lounge areas, the BIFMA Level 1- and SCS Indoor Advantage Gold-certified Turme Table is designed for durability, resilience, and longevity—even in high-traffic environments.
“Beautiful table—specifically the longer style. I love the sleek design and color options, and the solid steel helps both in weight and stability, making it an even better solution most won’t even recognize. … The design of this table focuses on long use through the integration of classic design and sustainability, and it’s well built to withstand lots of use. … I really love this product.” — Best of NeoCon jury
Gene earns the Silver for stacking chairs
The Gene Chair, designed by acclaimed Japanese eco-designer Taku Kumazawa, is distinct from other chairs in this category due to its high-density stacking capability, sustainability, innovative design, and versatile application. Gene’s seat is composed of recycled polypropylene pre-consumer waste by-products, and the chair’s components are also fully recyclable. What’s more, Gene easily disassembles to facilitate material recycling to reduce waste at the end of its life cycle. The chair’s slim profile allows for stacking up to 40 units on a dolly and 15 units on the floor, making it a space-efficient seating solution.
“Gene is a really nice looking high-density upholstered stacking chair . . . I love the disguised handle behind the back. The chrome frame is very elegant. Waterfall edge looks and feels lovely . . . Very comfortable for a high-density stacker. Durable, easy to stack. Overall, a very nice chair and great option for this category . . . This will be highly specified.” — Best of NeoCon jury
X50 Chair, a stacker that weighs less than 10 pounds
Another standout creation from industrial designer Taku Kumazawa, the X50 high-density stacking chair integrates a sleek, minimalistic aesthetic with comfort, functionality, and sustainability. The X50 series features a blend of virgin materials as well as polypropylene components made of pre-consumer recycled content. The innovative thermoplastic elastomer for the seat and back provides a slightly “springy” seat that adapts to the user for comfort. Weighing less than 10 lbs., the slim, lightweight X50 can stack up to 50 chairs high on a trolley or 18 on the floor. An excellent eco-friendly solution, X50 meets BIFMA durability standards, allows for easy disassembly, and is 100% recyclable at the end of its life cycle.
“The material has a super soft and luxurious feel. This chair is very comfortable for a high-density stacker. The indented ‘cushion’ is a unique and innovative feature. I like that this one piece that can serve two functions—glides can be switched for ganging glides. Overall, I’m very impressed with this chair for a high-density stacker.” — a Best of NeoCon juror
Curvaceous Elora promises a long-lasting lounge
Another frequent collaborator with Davis Furniture, German industrial designer Sebastian Herkner created the stunning Elora Lounge Collection to not only have an aesthetic impact with its curvaceous structure, but also to be long-lasting. Offered in both a lounge chair and a sofa, Elora comprises an internal rigid urethane shell and molded polypropylene foam over a plywood frame to form a meticulously crafted, tailored silhouette that makes a welcoming design statement in commercial, hospitality, and residential interiors.
“I love the sculptural look of the Elora sofa . . . the visuals are very beautiful. Innovative, layered construction is noteworthy, and it’s easy to see the commitment to detail.” — a Best of NeoCon juror
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.