Gifts for Designers & Creatives: 27 Gift Ideas

Books

Books are the silent companions that ignite the creative spark. These works are not just fodder for the mind, but true treasures for any designer. Gift knowledge that lasts and inspires.

• The Secret Lives of Colour: This small non-fiction book takes the reader into the world of colors and provides insight into the history of many well-known pigments, but also offers a lot of exciting background information about popular shades. (Order: amazon)
• The Complete Color Harmony, Pantone Edition: In this book, anyone looking for beautiful, harmonious color combinations—whether playful or powerful—will find inspiration. (Order: amazon)
• The History of Graphic Design: You can gift a stroll through the history of graphic design on 512 pages with this beautiful book. (Order: amazon)
• Ogilvy on Advertising: David Ogilvy, one of the most important advertising professionals of the 20th century, has compiled his knowledge on advertising in a timeless classic. (Order: amazon)
• Knowledge is Beautiful: Designers love beautiful visualizations. This book presents diverse knowledge in stunning graphics. (Order: amazon)
• History of Information Graphics: This book shows the impressive history of infographics with over 400 graphics. The historical journey spans many countries and epochs, showing that good graphic design is not something that only started recently. (Order: amazon)
• Thinking with Type: Ellen Lupton’s work is an essential resource for designers and creatives dealing with type design. It offers inspiration and valuable knowledge for designers of all experience levels—a great gift for typography lovers. (Order: amazon)

For the Office

A designer’s office needs the right kick. With these gifts, any workspace becomes a creative playground. Practical, stylish, and just the right thing to get ideas flowing.

• Pantone Color Mug: Pantone offers beautiful, simple mugs in various famous standard colors, and they are even dishwasher safe. These will make any print designer’s heart race. (Order: amazon | pantone)

  

• Pantone Postcard Set: This beautiful set of postcards in Pantone standard colors is also a great gift for color enthusiasts and those who want to become one. (Order: amazon)
• Moleskine Notebook: To get creative ideas on paper, there is nothing better than Moleskine notebooks. They come in classic and creative designs and various sizes. (Order: amazon)
• Pencil Set: Every creative mind occasionally needs a good pencil. Whether for sketching, drawing, or just jotting down a quick note. A high-quality pencil set can be a lovely gift for designers. Faber-Castell offers such sets, known for their excellent quality for many years. (Order: amazon)
• Personalized Neon Light: A stylish neon light with a personalized inscription is a great eye-catcher in any creative office or studio. And it’s less expensive than you might think. You can find such items on etsy

  

• Hourglass: To avoid losing track of time while working creatively or to focus more effectively, a beautiful hourglass is a great desk accessory. They come in many sizes, from modern to nostalgic. (Order: amazon)
• Photodarium Calendar: The beautiful Photodarium tear-off desk calendar offers a different Polaroid photo and a small story every day. (Order: amazon)
• Tube Squeezer: Paints can be quite expensive. To get the last bit out of a paint tube, these beautiful stainless steel tube squeezers are the perfect solution. (Order: amazon)
• Rocketbook – The Reusable Notebook: The last notebook a designer will need. The Rocketbook is a reusable notebook that allows you to easily digitize notes and wipe them clean with a swipe. An ideal gift idea for designers and creatives. (Order: amazon)
• Icon Stencil: If you need to quickly add an icon to a sketch, these stencils can be a quick helper for creatives. They come in many different versions and materials. (Order: amazon)

Gadgets as Gifts for Designers & Creatives

Gadgets are the little helpers that sweeten everyday life. They are not just toys, but also tools that combine creativity and technology. Perfect for any designer who enjoys that special extra touch.

• Graphic Designer Tote Bag: Graphic designers are magicians. To make sure everyone knows, you should flaunt this cool tote bag. (View & buy at etsy)
• Coasters with Client Quotes: As a designer, you often hear various client statements that can drive you crazy. To add some fun, there are great coasters with the best quotes like “Just one last small change.” (Order: etsy)
• CMY Cube: This fantastic transparent acrylic cube impressively demonstrates the additive color mixing of Cyan, Magenta, and Yellow and is a great eye-catcher. (Order: amazon) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5doY1973xpI
• Pantone Keychain: For stylishly carrying keys, the beautiful keychains from Pantone, available in various standard colors, are perfect. (Order: amazon | Pantone)
• Instant Camera: Instant cameras are back in trend and make a great gift idea for creative people. They come in various styles, from classic Polaroids with standard-sized instant prints to eye-catching instax models. (Order: amazon)

  

Inspiration

Sometimes it just takes a spark to ignite a fire. These gifts are like a breath of fresh air for tired minds, bringing new ideas and unfamiliar perspectives. Exactly what creative minds need when searching for the next big idea.

• Stack – Surprise Subscription: Every creative needs fresh inspiration. Stack delivers a carefully curated independent magazine each month. The best part is that it’s always a surprise, so you never know which magazine you’ll get. (More info & subscription: stackmagazines)

  

• Inspirational Cards from Kickstart Creativity: Every creative occasionally hits a block. To overcome this, these 50 inspirational cards can help. Each card is a gateway to new ideas and perspectives that stimulate thinking and get creativity back on track. (Order: amazon)

Little Toys as Gifts for Designers & Creatives

Play and work go hand in hand when you know how. These gift ideas are perfect for clearing the mind while simultaneously stimulating creativity. Ideal for designers who love to tinker and challenge themselves.

• Gradient Puzzle: A gradient puzzle from Cloudberries is an excellent gift idea for designers and graphic artists. With its 1,000 pieces, it offers not only a challenging activity but also visual pleasure as it covers the entire color spectrum. This puzzle is a playful gift that will surely delight any design enthusiast. (Order: amazon | cloudberries.co.uk)

  

• Font Memory Game: This creative variant of memory is for people who appreciate the nuances of fonts. (Order: abebooks)