As a writer, I’m fascinated by words and how they convey meaning. Words don’t need to be fancy or complex to tell a story. In fact, simplicity if always better when writing. That’s why I love using simile in speech and writing.

I think my love for a good simile came from a guy I worked with in college on a construction site. He was from Covington, Ky and had a simile for every situation. I can’t repeat most of them here because they were often off-color (but always funny to a college guy).

He would say things like: “Pretty as a peach;” “As happy as clams at high tide;” “As wild as a June bug on a string;” “As crooked as a barrel of snakes;” and “Ugly as a mud fence” to describe the world around him.

Having just returned from Chicago Design Week, I thought I’d come up with some NeoCon and Design Days similes to describe the event:

• “Colder than a Merchandise Mart hallway on a Tuesday afternoon.” Was anyone else freezing in THE MART on Tuesday? Use this simile in any situation where you are freezing cold.

• “As hot as a wristband for Diplo.” SitOnIt Seating’s party at House of Blues that featured a set by the famous DJ, producer, and the co-creator and lead member of the electronic project Major Lazer. People were pulling out all the strings to snag a Diplo wristband.

• “As industrious as Jeff Lorenger during Chicago Design Week.” HNI CEO Jeff Lorenger had showrooms to man at 350 N. Orleans St. near THE MART for HON and the Allsteel, Gunlocke and HBF showroom at 345 N. Morgan St. in Fulton Market. I bet he got all his steps in during the event.

• “As confusing as Design Days signage.” Not sure whose idea it was to zip-tie plastic wayfinding signage to posts in Fulton Market, but it didn’t work. Wind easily blew the signs around, changing the orientation and causing confused fair-goers to wander around searching for their destination.

• “As compelling as the OFS and Fellowes showrooms in Fulton Market.” I had high hopes for the new Steelcase showroom in Fulton Market, but it was OFS and Fellowes that hit a high note in the cool Chicago neighborhood.

• “As dark as a trip through the Turf showroom.” Turf won the competition for best Chicago Design Days showroom for good reason. The showroom was dark, moody and delightful. It also showed off the power of the Turf product to make a quiet, contemplative space in a bonkers and busy building.

• “Busy as Kay Sargent’s Sharpie at NeoCon.” Kudos to HOK designer Kay Sargent who signed hundreds of her book “Designing Neuroinclusive Workplaces” in a Nook pod in the “ReWritten” showroom, a space that also celebrated things that have been re-used, re-made, re-crafted, re-cycled, re-finished and re-furbished. Attendees waiting in a long line to receive a signed copy courtesy of Nook.

• “As slow as a Design Days bus.” I don’t want to pick on Design Days, but the transportation needs serious improvement. Waiting 45 minutes for a massive coach bus followed by a 15-minute weaving ride through clogged city streets is simply unacceptable.

I could go on and on (and in the pages of officeinsight magazine in the coming weeks, we will keep the Chicago Design Week content coming. What are some of your similes that came from Chicago Design Week?