If you have a design enthusiast in your life, you know that buying gifts can be a challenge.
Here are some gift ideas to both delight and inspire—including several from my own collection. Plus many of them are from fellow small businesses (yay!)
Here are some ideas for anyone who loves words, fonts, and lettering (like myself!)
Wooden Ampersand Bookend
I have always been a fan of the humble ampersand. This wooden bookend gives it the attention it deserves and accentuates any decor.
Alphabet of Typography
I have had this poster hanging in three different offices. Even for a seasoned designer like myself, it’s a nice reminder of typographic terminology.
Be Kind Stacked Colorful Stickers
You Are Beautiful is a Chicago-based company that created the now-famous silver “You Are Beautiful” stickers that you may have seen all over the country. They also install kindness-inspired typographic installations in public space across the country.
Pantone Mug
My favorite color—PMS 179—is no longer available and my mug broke (boo!) but they do have a nice new palette of colors.
Hex Color Chart T-Shirt
Your gift recipient can go for a fashion statement with this hex color t-shirt. They’ll never need to search for another web color again.
Pantone Color Palette Coffee Table Book
If your favorite artist struggles to find amazing color palettes, consider this Pantone color palette coffee table book. Not only will they find the palette they need, so too will their guests!
Christine Rains is a designer, illustrator and nature-lover, so naturally (pun intended) she created a line of products featuring her trail-inspired illustrations. Her realistic illustrations will brighten up any home or office.
MyWeek Weekly Planner
Crystal Ink is a friend and fellow woman (and mom)-owned design studio in Canada. Her handmade MyWeek planners bring focus and clarity to your week and are available in a variety of designer-approved colors and designs.
United States of Letterpress Notebooks
Field Notes is a Chicago-based company that produces a myriad of notebooks and journals. They partnered with nine independent letterpress shops from across America for these special designs.
Pockitudes Gratitude Journal
Pockitudes donates a portion of their proceeds to one of my clients, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA). I purchased their gratitude journals as client gifts (they were very well-received!)
Botanica (Reprint)
Botanica is Volume B in UPPERCASE Magazine’s Encyclopedia of Inspiration. As with their print magazine, this book featuring plant and flower-inspired creatives is a visual delight.
Go: A Kidd’s Guide to Graphic Design
I checked out this book from the library for my kids, but I fell in love with it. The design is bold and the book includes 10 design projects that both kids and adults can have fun with.
Side note: I met Chip Kidd at a HOW Design Conference and he was funny and gracious, writing a clever note for my son on the poster he signed for me.
Meet the Marks by Frederic & Misa Terral
When I heard the founders of Pockitudes wrote a children’s book, I added it to my cart immediately. My 7 YO mini designer loves the typographic family of characters.
Two Noisy by Nadine Noble
Nadine Noble of IdeaNest is a graphic designer, illustrator and mom who created a clever story about two monsters just trying to fit in. My little ones have loved reading it as well as admiring the colorful illustrations.
We Are Shapes by Melinda Beck
I found out about Melinda Beck’s illustrations from a fellow small business owner and was excited to find out that she had published a board book based on shapes.
No matter what you get your design enthusiast for the holidays, they’ll love the fact that you thought of creative ways to celebrate their passion.
These picks also make great gifts for your team or vendors and partners. Many of them (such as Pockitudes and Field Notes) can be purchased in larger quantities and/or personalized.
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