To say that 2021 has been a tough year would be a cinch to win the Understatement of the Year award.
With all of the things that have been going on around the world, we’ve finally reached that time of year where people can start thinking of the best gifts to get the ones they love.
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Being such a stressful season already, we thought we’d put our Santa hats on and play a little Secret Santa and help you pick the best gifts for the graphic designers on your list this year.
Grab that list and let’s get going! Here are the best Christmas Gift Ideas for Designers in 2021.
Best Christmas Gift Ideas for Designers in 2021
What do you give a designer for Christmas? Buying a gift for a graphic designer is a lot like buying gifts for someone who works in construction. Namely that whatever it is, it needs to be useful and that it’s something that they will be sure to use just about every day. With these prerequisites in mind, we thought we’ve come up with a pretty good list this year.
In the spirit of ease, we’ve broken down our gift ideas into 12 easy to read categories:
- Most Popular
- Best For Self
- Hardware
- Software
- Books
- Toys, Arts & Crafts
- Decor
- Clothing
- Accessories
- Kitchen & Dining
- Posters & Cards
- Digital Resources
See a category you like? Simply click on the link to go right to that section, otherwise, let’s get started!
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Fail-Proof Christmas Gifts For Designers
These gifts will work for any budget and are sure to satisfy your most-picky designer friend.
Most Popular & Best Christmas Gifts for Designers
- Sharpie Permanent Markers Ultimate Collection — Markers
- Sony WH-1000XM4 — Earphones
- Wacom Cintiq 22 — Drawing Tablet
- Apple iWatch Series 6 — Smartwatch
- Adobe Creative Cloud Subscription — Creative Software
- Logitech MX Master 3 — Mouse
- Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra — Smartphone
- AmazonBasics Backpack — Backpack
- Apple iMac Pro 27″ with 5K Retina Display — Computer
- reMarkable Paper Tablet — Digital Notepad
- Creativity, Inc by Ed Catmull — Book
- Apple iPad Air — Tablet
- Herman Miller Aeron — Ergonomic Chair
- Microsoft Surface Book 4 — Laptop
- LED Word Clock — Clock
- LG 27MD5K-B Ultrafine — Monitor
Full details on these gifts can be found further below.
More popular gift ideas:
Best Christmas Gifts For Your Designer Self
Treat yourself this Christmas with some of the most popular gifts for designers.
- Adobe Creative Cloud — Get 40-70% off with our Adobe discount
- Envato Elements — Get unlimited downloads to 50+ million items
- Logo Package Express — Create logos x10 faster. Get 20% off here
- Skillshare — Learn new creative skills
- High-End Business Templates for Designers — Grow your creative business
- TheFutur — Level up with courses, digital tools and more
- MyFonts — Grab some new fonts
- 45,000 Icons: RoundIcons — Download all the icons you need
- DesignCuts — Grab some design resources
- Abobe Stock — Get 10 free stock photos
23+ Best Technology & Hardware Gifts for Designers
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If you know any graphic designers or creative people in your life, you know how much that they not only love tech gear but how big of an essential it is during their workday.
Our list runs the gamut from the incredible Macbook Pro to the MakerBot Replicator+ 3D Printer.
Hardware Gifts Over $500
- Wacom Cintiq 16 Tablet
- Apple iPad Pro
- Apple Macbook Pro
- Sony A6600
- LG 27MD5K-B Ultrafine
- Apple iPhone 13 Pro
- MakerBot Replicator+
Technology Gifts Between $100-$500
- WD My Passport External Harddrive
- Sony WH-1000XM4
- Razer Huntsman Elite Mechanical Keyboard
- Epson Wide-format printer
- Wacom Intuous Pro
- Bose SoundSport Free Wireless
- reMarkable Paper Tablet
- Nintendo Switch OLED
- BenQ Screenbar
- Datacolor SpyderX ELITE
Hardware Gifts Under $100
- Projection Keyboard
- Logitech MX Master 3
- MYNT3D 3D Pen Pro
- HUION L4S LED Light Box
- Huion Inspiroy 1060 Plus
5+ Best Creative Software for Designers
Having the best tech possible does very little for a graphic designer or creative without programs to use on it.
From Adobe’s wide-ranging Creative Cloud, to Procreate, a great design app for iPad, there is a program out there for everyone.
- Adobe Creative Cloud — Get 40-70% off with our Adobe discount.
- Affinity Designer
- Procreate
- Sketch
12+ Best Books and Notebooks for Designers
If the graphic designer in your life is at all like us, they spend a lot of their day staring at a screen. Sometimes, a great way to unwind is to sketch some ideas in a notebook or get lost in the pages of a good book that might just get the creative juices flowing. These make for some great Secret Santa gifts for designers.
- Dot Grid Sketchbook
- Moleskine Notebook
- Walls Notebook
- Design & Branding Books
- Pantone Colour Book
- The Ultimate Guide to Logo Design eBook
- 1,001 Ways to Be Creative
- Creativity Inc.
- 365 Days of Creativity
- Steal Like an Artist
- The War of Art
- A Drawing Manual
6+ Best Toys, Arts & Crafts Gift Ideas for Designers
While a good book can do wonders for the imagination, sometimes building something or immersing yourself in something physical can do many beneficial things. While it may look out of place, Legos aren’t just for children.
- Peel ‘n Stick Chalk Wall
- Waterproof notebook
- Legos
- Between the Lines: An Expert Level Coloring Book
- Master Artist Oil Paint Set Includes Wood Art
- Nintendo Labo: Variety Kit
11+ Best Decor & Decorations for Designers
Whether they are working at home or at work, the office a graphic designer works in deserves to have some creature comforts and decor to represent the personality a designer has. Each of our gift ideas can help add some creature comforts no matter where they work.
- PANTONE Magnet Set
- Nanoleaf Canvas
- Graphic Designer Parking Only Sign
- Zen Garden Kit
- INFINITY TIME Moving Gear Wall Clock
- Bitopbi Stackable 3D Puzzles
- Magnetic Poetry Original Kit
- SKYDUE Stand Up Calendar
- Brightech Sky LED Torchiere Super Bright Floor Lamp
- St. Luke Necklace, Keychain, or Clip Gift
- Harry Potter Hogwarts Express Bookends
6+ Best Clothing & Apparel Gift Ideas for Designers
When you’re a graphic designer, you can’t just talk the talk, you also need to be able to walk the walk. While not every designer is the fashionable type, these gifts can certainly upgrade their wardrobe while adding a little bit of fun.
- Touch Screen Gloves
- MVMT Watch Use code ‘globetrotting15‘ for $15 off
- Graphic Designer T-Shirt
- Graphic Designer Definition T-Shirt
- Funny Food Socks
- Eat Sleep Design Repeat T-Shirt
- Graphic Designer Gift T-Shirt Hourly Rate
5+ Best Accessories for Designers
The way we think about accessories is that without these, your day would be that much harder. Each of these gift ideas fills a need from storage, to lighting, back support, and even trash removal. See, can you see yourself not having these “accessories”?
- Foot Rest for Under Desk
- Herman Miller Aeron Chair
- BetterBack Support Posture Belt
- TOWNEW T1 trash can
- LaMetric Pixel Dashboard & Speaker
5+ Best Kitchen & Dining Gifts for Designers
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Everyone gets hungry, right? Well, while it might not always be easy to pull a designer away from their computer during a long session, many will not turn down a good cup of coffee or tea. And if that’s the case, give their cup of joe some style.
- Camera Lens Coffee Mug
- I’m A UX Designer Not A Magician Coffee Mug
- Death Wish Coffee K-Cups
- Keurig K-Mini Plus
- GARMEE Electric Coffee Warmer
5+ Best Postcard Gifts for Designers
Everyone needs to take a vacation sometimes.
While we know that’s really difficult right now with the pandemic, once you’re able to go, wouldn’t you want to share your trip with your friends and colleagues?
Well, we do and that is why we think these designer postcards are a great idea for Christmas, and they can even be put onto walls for some nice decor.
- CMYK Poster
- Pantone Postcard Box: 100 Postcards
- 642 Things to Draw: 30 Postcards
- Winnie The Pooh 100 Postcard Set
- Vintage Retro Old Stars Postcards
- America the Beautiful postcard set
10+ Digital Christmas Gift Ideas for Graphic Designers 2021
Want to keep it basic? Send them a gift card from one of the below sites.
Stock Photography & Vectors
Design Resources
Fonts
2021 Christmas Gift Buying Guide for Designers
Now we know that some people will tell you that they don’t need anything this year for Christmas. For some, that may be true. While we don’t necessarily believe that, finding the perfect gift, even when they “say” they don’t want anything takes a little research on your part.
Look at the past
A great way to pick the perfect gift is to look at what might have happened in that person’s life in the last year. Maybe they graduated from college this year and you could frame their diploma. Or maybe they started their own business and could use a little help with a piece of tech that could put their business over the top. Events in someone’s life are a great way to find gift ideas.
Ask yourself what they might need
Even if they tell you that they don’t need anything or can’t think of anything that they might want for Christmas, it can help to think broader when searching for a great gift. In the case of someone who runs their own business, the greatest gift they could ever receive is more time.
Unless you’re a Time Lord, that’s going to be a hard gift to give. However, there are so many devices out there that can help people run their lives more efficiently. Thinking about what to give someone on a general level can help you see more options.
Do a little light stalking
Now, we don’t mean park a van across the street from their house or anything like that. Many people have wishlists on Amazon and if you just happened to buy them something that was on that list, they will be truly surprised. You can check Facebook or other social media for clues if they’ve liked certain products or made comments about how getting a particular item would make life easier.
50+ Best Christmas Gifts for Graphic Designers in 2021
Sharpie Permanent Markers Ultimate Collection
Never look for a pen again
While it may be a bit ostentatious, the Sharpie Permanent Markers Ultimate Collection comes with over 100 different markers in assorted colors. From fine tip markers, ultra-fine, and chisel tip to twin tips, neons, and even metallic, this collection of Sharpie markers is truly the ultimate choice for anyone who may even remotely use Sharpies in their work and can even be a great gag gift.
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Make your own masterpiece with the vividly bold Sharpie Ultimate Collector’s Edition
- Proudly permanent ink marks on paper, plastic, metal, and most other surfaces
- Remarkably resilient formula dries quickly and resists fading and water; AP certified
- Endless marking options: Fine tip for impressively bold marks, ultra fine tip for ridiculous detail, chisel tip for broad and fine lines plus versatile twin tip markers
- The ultimate collection: 40 fine, 42 ultra fine, 8 chisels and 12 twin tip coloring markers in unforgettable original colors, 5 luminous neon markers, and 8 shimmering metallic markers
Laser Projection Bluetooth Virtual Keyboard & Mouse for iPhone, Ipad, Smartphone and Tablets
This little box of joy is a dreamy reality. This projection keyboard provides designers with a full-size keyboard for typing. Moreover, this keyboard is smaller and easier to carry than a regular-sized portable keyboard. Again, a fine Christmas present for designers and techies.
Latest Price on Amazon:
reMarkable Paper Tablet Digital Notepad and e-Reader
The best gift for a bookworm
If you know an avid reader who loves technology, then the reMarkable Paper Tablet Digital Notepad and e-Reader may be the perfect choice for them. While it’s a little more expensive than a Kindle or Fire, the reMarkable comes with 100,000 pages that they can use to sketch, write, and scribble all of their notes for their latest projects. On top of that, the pages feel like real paper, reducing any discomfort that someone may have switched from a pad of paper. Plus, they can read their favorite books on it as well. Which makes our next gift even better.
Latest Price on Amazon:
- The reMarkable paper tablet - a digital device for writing, reading & sketching that feels like paper.
- No other tablet in the world gives you an experience so close to paper as reMarkable.
- Here to replace your notebooks, printouts and documents. A groundbreaking device that changes how people work.
- Super low latency, 226 DPI CANVAS display. You've never experienced anything like the CANVAS display.
- In the box: reMarkable, Marker, 8 extra Marker tips and charging cable. Original reMarkable Folio (sleeve) NOT included.
Sony WH-1000XM4 Headphones
The best noise-cancelling headphones
Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 8.95 oz | Cable length: 3.94 ft | Frequency response: 4Hz to 40kHz | Drivers: 1.57-inch | Driver type: Dome-type | Sensitivity: 104.5 dB | Impedance: 47 ohm | Battery life: 30 hours | Wireless range: 30 meters (98ft) | NFC: Yes
If you’ve ever read some of our other articles, you’ll know that we love the WH-1000XM3 headphones from Sony and didn’t think anyone would be able to dethrone them. Turns out, their younger brother the 1000XM4 has done just that. While aesthetically, they don’t look all that different from the previous version, the XM4 comes with some new features including multipoint pairing, conversational awareness, and autoplay/pause using a built-in sensor make these the headphones to buy this Christmas.
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Industry-leading noise canceling with Dual Noise Sensor technology
- Next-level music with Edge-AI, co-developed with Sony Music Studios Tokyo
- Up to 30-hour battery life with quick charging (10 min charge for 5 hours of playback)
- Touch Sensor controls to pause play skip tracks, control volume, activate your voice assistant, and answer phone calls
- Speak-to-chat technology automatically reduces volume during conversations
Wacom Cintiq 22 Drawing Tablet
The best drawing tablet overall
Active drawing area: 19.5 x 11.5in | Resolution: 1,920 x 1,080 | Pen pressure sensitivity: 8,192 levels | Connections: HDMI, USB 2.0
With its combination of a huge drawing area, highly sensitive stylus, affordable pricing, and excellent drawing experience, the Cintiq 22 from Wacom is by far the best drawing tablet in 2021. Bundled with the Pen Pro 2, the stylus has 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity, and the screen comes with an anti-glare surface so they can work outdoors without any issues.
Latest Price on Amazon:
- 22 inches HD display features a wide format, full HD resolution and extra wide viewing angle
- Work naturally and intuitively directly on screen; Sketch, paint, design and edit directly on the surface of the screen
- Wacom's most advanced pressure and tilt sensitive pen technology replicates the natural effects and experience of working with conventional tools such as pens, markers, and brushes
- Time saving express keys, work easier and faster with customizable express keys, 1 touch access to your favorite shortcuts
Apple iWatch Series 6
Perfect for anyone with an iPhone
OS: watchOS 7 | Compatibility: iOS | Display: 1.78″ OLED | Processor: Apple S6 | Band sizes: Varies based on watch size | Onboard storage: 32GB | Battery: 18 hours | Charging method: Wireless | IP rating: Water-resistant to 50m | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, LTE
If you have a graphic designer on your list that swears by all things Apple product, especially their phone, then the iWatch Series 6 is the perfect addition to their “collection”. While not a complete upgrade from the previous model, the new features can be handy such as the blood oxygen monitoring and a chipset that has been upgraded. If you have an Apple-lover on your list, you can’t go wrong with the best watch the company has made yet.
Latest Price on Amazon:
- GPS model lets you take calls and reply to texts from your wrist
- Measure your blood oxygen with an all-new sensor and app
- Check your heart rhythm with the ECG app
- The Always-On Retina display is 2.5x brighter outdoors when your wrist is down
- S6 SiP is up to 20% faster than Series 5
Adobe Creative Cloud Subscription
The perfect addition to any designer’s toolbox
While pens and pencils can certainly help a graphic designer in the short run, where they make their bread and butter is through the use of computer programs such as Photoshop, Illustrator, or even After Effects. This is why an Adobe Creative Cloud Subscription is such a great idea. A 12-month subscription that auto-renews, there are more than 20 apps that they can use plus the subscription includes access to Adobe Fonts, Behance, and access to the Creative Cloud Libraries. With all this packed neatly together, you’ll definitely win Christmas this year.
Also see our Adobe discount guide to save 40-70% on Adobe CC.
Dot Grid Sketchbook
This Dot Grid Sketchbook integrated with a dot grid pattern is super handy for logo designs and UI work.
Latest Price on Amazon:
- The Dot Grid Book's cover is a unique suede-to-the-touch cover
- Pages are made of 80lb Premium Blend paper with a subtle texture, double perforated, and three-hole punched between both perforations for maximum flexibility
- The dot matrix on the front and back of each page serves as a subtle guide for your notations and sketches.
- Size: 8.5" x 10.5" (21cm x 26cm)
- Binding: Black Double Spiral
Moleskine Notebook
The Moleskine Notebook is a durable classic for designers.
Latest Price on Amazon:
- CLASSIC MOLESKINE NOTEBOOK: Moleskine classic notebooks are perfect notebooks for writing journals, a daily diary, or note taking in college classes or meetings. Moleskine notebooks are beloved by...
- DURABLE COVER & ELASTIC CLOSURE: Hold writing projects & notes in your Moleskine notebook with an elastic closure band & inner storage folders. Leather-like classic Moleskine cover & thick, ivory...
- GIFT QUALITY NOTEBOOKS: Moleskine planners, journals and notebooks come in hardcover or softcover and colors like black, red, blue, green and brown. The binding and cover have a durable finish,...
- DELUXE QUALITY PAGES: Moleskine's thick, ivory paper pages in a hardcover Moleskine notebook, softcover Moleskine notebook, cahier or volant journal, or Moleskine planner are perfectly textured for...
- MOLESKINE QUALITY: We're dedicated to culture, travel, memory, imagination, & personal identity—both physical & digital. We bring this commitment to our notebooks, bags, apps & smart pens &...
Extra Storage / BackUp Drives
Backup storage, of course, is a mind-blowing gift any time. It is a life-saving gift you can present to your designer friends whose work is their vigor. There’s no way they want to lose it; a thoughtful gift idea indeed. So, why not?
This storage software allows syncing data with other cloud services. Whether you want backups, security, file management, or just cloud storage, they meet all the requirements.
See the best External Hard Drives for Graphic Designers
Latest Price on Amazon:
- USB-C and USB 3.1 compatible
- Innovative style with refined metal cover
- Password protection with 256-bit AES hardware encryption
- Formatted for Windows 10
Logitech MX Master 3
The best mouse for a graphic designer
DPI: 4,000 | Interface: Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless | Buttons: 7 | Ergonomic: Right-handed
Ok, we know what you’re thinking. A mouse is a mouse correct? Au contraire mon ami. Customizable buttons, a design-build to fit ergonomically in their hand, a thumbwheel, and at its lowest price, the MX Master 3 from Logitech is truly an extension of a graphic designer’s arm. On top of all of the specs and features that the mouse contains, it is also the preferred mouse of choice by our very own Jacob Cass. If you’re looking for a great gift, pick the one that already comes with a ringing endorsement.
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Cross computer control: Game changing capacity to navigate seamlessly on 3 computers, and copy paste text, images, and files from 1 to the other using Logitech flow
- Dual connectivity: Use with upto 3 Windows or Mac computers via included Unifying receiver or Bluetooth Smart wireless technology. Gesture button- Yes
- Advanced ergonomic design: Perfectly sculpted, hand crafted shape supports your hand and wrist in a comfortable, natural position
- Auto shift scrolling: Speed adaptive scroll wheel auto shifts on the fly from click to click to hyper fast scrolling
- Rechargable battery: Upto 70 days of power on a single charge
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra
The best smartphone for creatives. Period.
Weight: 208g | Dimensions: 164.8mm x 77.2mm x 8.1mm | OS: Android 10 | Screen size: 6.9-inch | Resolution: 1440 x 3088 | CPU: Snapdragon 865+ | RAM: 12GB | Storage: 128GB/256GB/512GB | Battery: 4,500mAh | Rear camera: 108MP + 12MP + 12MP | Front camera: 10MP
If you’re looking to buy a graphic designer a new phone for Christmas, you owe it to them to get the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra from Samsung. Cheap, it is not but for the money, it’s well worth the price. An amazing phone for creatives, they can scribble, draw, or even take notes throughout their day. Thanks to the removable S Pen stylus, all of this is possible. We haven’t even mentioned the camera yet – the Note 20 Ultra includes a versatile camera that is capable of shooting in 8K. All in all, you can’t pick a better phone.
Latest Price on Amazon:
- S PEN & SAMSUNG NOTES: Pen precision meets PC power with S Pen & Samsung Notes. So responsive, it feels like you're using a real pen.
- INTELLIGENT BATTERY & SUPER FAST CHARGE: All-day intelligent battery learns how to optimize battery life, while super fast charging boosts your battery in minutes.
- DISPLAY & GAMING: Breathtaking screen refresh rate, adaptive Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, Galaxy 5G support & advanced processor, allow for a smooth gaming experience.
- HYPERFAST PROCESSOR: Samsung’s fastest Note processor transforms your gaming and binging with less interruption.
- POINT TO SHARE: Share information directly with other compatible Samsung devices.
Monitor: LG 27MD5K-B Ultrafine
The best 5K monitor and the best monitor for Macbook users
It can be tough to find the best monitor for a MacBook pro. Unless Apple seriously drops the price on their Pro Display XDR, the closest option you’re going to find is the Ultrafine 5K from LG.
This 27-inch monitor displays everything beautifully with its 5K resolution that is supported by color support of 99% DCI-P3 and a contrast ratio of 1200:1. With three USB-C downstream ports and a single USB-C port that allows you to transmit 5K video and data while also charging your MacBook. If you really want to make their Christmas, this is a gift that will be sure to impress.
Latest Price on Amazon:
- In-Plane Switching (IPS) Technology with Thunderbolt 3 / USB Type-C Inputs and Built-In Webcam with Microphone and Built-In USB Type-C Hub
- 5120 x 2880 Resolution, 1200:1 Static Contrast Ratio, 500 cd/m² Brightness, 178°/178° Viewing Angles, 14 ms (GtG) Response Time, 10-Bit, 1.07 Billion Colors
- Requires a compatible Mac running macOS Sierra 10.12.1 or later
- Compatibility (1 display): 5120 x 2880 @ 60Hz iMac Pro (2017), iMac (2017), MacBook Pro (2016 and later), and iMac models from 2017
- Compatibility (2 displays): 15-inch MacBook Pro from 2016 and later using the right and left side Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports on your MacBook Pro
AmazonBasics Backpack
Their very own Santa’s sack
Material: Canvas| Size: Fits up to a 17-inch laptop
Our Christmas list features a lot of tech and they’re gonna need something reliable to lug that around every day. Made from a lightweight canvas, the Basics Backpack from Amazon is a quality backpack with enough room for all of their stuff. A padded back helps keep things comfortable while padded straps keep the pressure off their shoulders. While it may not be as high-tech as some other options that are out there, the combination of price and quality that only Amazon can offer makes this a must buy.
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Multi-compartment laptop backpack equipped with one large packing compartment, separate laptop compartment, tablet holder, and front pocket organizer
- Fits most 17-inch laptops; separate padded laptop compartment with zippered side entry for easy access and velcro strap to keep laptop in place
- Built-in padded tablet holder next to the laptop compartment for easy storage; fits iPad Air 2, iPad Mini 4, Samsung Galaxy Tab S2, Google Nexus 9, Amazon Fire HDX, and other tablets up to 12 inches
- Padded shoulder straps and back padding offer extra back support and comfort; top loop handle for a secure hold when picking up or moving the backpack
- Internal cell phone pouch with headphone port; water bottle pouches; removable key ring
Apple iMac Pro 27″ with 5K Retina Display
The “Great White Buffalo” of Christmas gifts
CPU: 8 to 18-core Intel Xeon W | Graphics: Radeon Pro Vega 56 – Radeon Pro Vega 64 | RAM: 32GB – 256GB DDR4 ECC | Screen: 27-inch 5K (5,120 x 2,880) Retina display (P3 wide color) | Storage: 1TB – 4TB PCIe 3.0 SSD | Dimensions (H x W x D): 65 x 20.3 x 51.6cm
If your goal at Christmas is to wow the person you’re buying a gift for, then you can ignore all the other options on our list and pay attention to this right here. The iMac Pro from Apple is at the top of the mountain when it comes to workstations for creatives. Not only does it boast a 27-inch 5K display that looks insanely gorgeous but has the most powerful hardware inside that Apple could fit. While all that is impressive, so is the price. So if you’re really thinking about wowing someone not only this year but for the next few years, get them the Rolls Royce of computers.
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Apple 27" iMac Pro with Retina 5K Display (Late 2017) - Magic Keyboard with Numeric Keypad (Space Gray) - Magic Mouse 2 (Space Gray) - Lightning to USB Cable - Power Cord - Apple 1 Year Warranty (90...
- Operating System: macOS
- Processor: Intel Xeon W 10-Core 3.0GHz (turbo 4.5GHz) 23.75MB cache
- Memory: 128GB DDR4 SDRAM 2666 MHz ECC
- Available Memory Slots: None
Need Small Folding Computer Desk
Available in 8 colors and 5 sizes from 31.5 inches to 60 inches. The Need Small Computer desk is easy to carry and doesn’t require any assembly. Simply unfold the legs and it’s ready to use. It’s sturdy design keeps it from wobbling, which is a primary concern with any desk. Great for anyone looking for a desk that is simple, easy to use, practical, and aesthetically pleasing.
See here for the 10 Best Folding & Adjustable Computer Desks for Small Spaces or perhaps a standing desk.
Latest Price on Amazon:
- 【Small desk size】 L31.5" x W15.7" x H29.9".It's small and compact design, could fit your room, providing enough table space for writing, reading or working. It is ideal for home, office,...
- 【Good Material】 0.7" thick environmental E1 standard particle wood with matte surface finish, waterproof and anti scratch. Desk leg uses epoxy spray paint technique, lacquer face is not easy to...
- 【Advantages】1. Folding Design, NO need to assemble, can be opened and folded in a few seconds. 2. It folds up quickly and can be stored easily without taking up too much space.
- 【Adjustable Leg Pads Design】Legs can be adjusted 0.5"-1" in length, allowing stability under an uneven floor.
- 【Certification & Quality Assurance】Our desk is certified with "BIFMA", in accordance with US Office Furniture Standards. If there are any problems about the product, please contact us directly, we...
Creativity, Inc by Ed Catmull
Best gift for a graphic designer stuck in a rut
Ever heard of Pixar? You know, that little animation company that every movie they’ve made has been gold? Ed Catmull, one of the co-founders of the company, has authored a book that should be read by anyone whose goal in their work is originality. The book takes a ‘behind-the-scenes’ look at Pixar and at its heart, it is a book about the creative process and how those ideas and practices make the best in us possible.
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Random House
- Hardcover Book
- Catmull, Ed (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 368 Pages - 04/08/2014 (Publication Date) - Random House (Publisher)
Apple iPad Air 4
The iPad Pro in Air form
Weight: 458g | Dimensions: 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1mm | OS: iPadOS 14 | Screen size: 10.9-inch | Resolution: 1640 x 2360 pixels | CPU: A14 Bionic | Storage: 64GB/256GB | microSD slot: No | Battery: Up to 10 hours | Rear camera: 12MP | Front camera: 7MP
The newest version of the iPad Air is an iPad Pro in sheep’s clothing. Although it has a cheaper price than the Pro, it certainly resembles one with its all-screen front and like the iPad Pro, it supports the second-generation Apple Pencil and the Magic Keyboard. The internal chipset, the A14, is the same one that is in the new iPhone 12 and actually newer than what is currently in the iPad Pro. With four powerful speakers, a decent screen, and good battery life, the iPad Air is a great tablet, plus it comes in a wide range of colors. Something the iPad Pro definitely does not do.
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Stunning 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone and P3 wide color
- A14 Bionic chip with Neural Engine
- Touch ID for secure authentication and Apple Pay
- 12MP back camera, 7MP FaceTime HD front camera
- Available in Silver, Space Gray, Rose Gold, Green, and Sky Blue
Herman Miller Aeron
A throne fit for a king
While the world of office chairs comes with many options that a graphic designer can choose to sit in, the one that we keep coming back to is the Aeron by Herman Miller. The mesh design and clean design lines that contour to a person’s body makes this chair a thing of beauty. Made to be 94% recyclable, the Aeron comes with a wide variety of customization options. Even though it was originally released 26 years ago, it still stands as one of the best chairs ever made.
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Your purchase includes One Herman Miller Aeron Ergonomic Chair – Size C, graphite color
- Chair dimensions: 43" H x 28.25" W x 18.5" D. Seat heights: 16”-20.5”.
- Tilt Limiter lets you set the recline range at one of three postures. Tension control lets you adjust the amount of effort needed to recline comfortably. Seat Angle Adjustment changes seat angle from...
- Try the Adjustable PostureFit Sacral/Lumbar support. Two individual pads flex independently and can be adjust to fit the curve of your spine
- Fully Adjustable Arms adjust from a height of 6.8” above the seat to 10.8 inches above the seat, slide backward and forward over a range of 2.5 inches, pivot 15 degrees outward and 17.5 degrees...
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4
The best Microsoft laptop for graphic designers in 2021
CPU: 11th Gen Intel Core i5 and i7 or AMD Ryzen 5 | Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics, AMD Microsoft Surface Edition: AMD Radeon | RAM: 8-32GB | Screen: 13.5″ or 15″ | Storage: 256GB-1TB SSD
Although Microsoft is best known for its software, it has recently released some excellent laptops. The most recent of which is the Microsoft Surface Laptop 4, a perfect laptop for graphic designers. It not only has a beautifully thin and sleek design, but it also boasts an outstanding PixelSense touchscreen that will make your work appear its finest.
It also has a great keyboard, powerful hardware, and long battery life. It’s an excellent showcase for Windows 10, and it’s more than capable of running any graphic design application you can think of.
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Power to do what you want with up to 70% more speed than before and an 11th Gen Intel Core processor.
- Thin, light, elegant design in choice of two sizes: light, portable 13.5” or larger 15” that’s perfect for split-screen multitasking.
- Show your best side on video calls with sharp video and image quality, even in low light, thanks to a front-facing 720p HD camera.
- Enjoy theater-like sound for movies and shows with Omnisonic Speakers backed by immersive Dolby Atmos6.
- Be heard loud and clear on calls with dual far-field Studio Mics that capture your voice and reduce background noise.
Field Notes
The best gift for designers who like to get ideas down on paper
Many designers love to get their ideas and design sketches down on paper before working on their computer and more and more, they turn to Field Notes to jot ideas down. For those who do, there is no better gift than Field Notes notebooks for your favorite designer will love using these every day in all kinds of ways with their work. While a three-pack may not last very long, at such an affordable price, it wouldn’t be the worst idea to give more than one as a gift.
See here for more top notepads.
Latest Price on Amazon:
- POCKET NOTEBOOK, PERFECTED - At 3.5"x5.5," this Field Notes Original Kraft memo book 3 pack of journals is perfectly sized to fit in the pocket of your shirt, pants, or purse. As always, the inside...
- PLAIN PAPER JOURNAL - This 48-page journal notebook is designed with best-in-class versatility. Inside you'll find 48 pages of blank paper for daily sketches, journaling, or tracking midnight...
- ACID-FREE, BRIGHT WHITE - Each field journal features responsibly manufactured 60 lb (90 GSM) Finch Opaque body paper, which is a pleasure to write on, as it's smoother and more substantial than the...
- RUGGED & DURABLE COVERS - Stash your Field Notes notebook in your pocket, car, or backpack for everyday carry. The cover is made from 80 lb kraft cardstock from French Paper Co. in Michigan and...
- PROUDLY PRINTED & MANUFACTURED IN THE USA - We take great pride in our complete and transparent origin stories. Each of our thin notebooks and journals is bestowed with evidence of our artisan-first...
LED Word Clock – $99
The perfect quirky gift this holiday season
We’ll just come out and say it – graphic designers can be a bit quirky and what’s better than getting them a gift that’s not only unique but can also appeal to their quirkiness. The LED Word Clock is a great gift for someone who likes to decorate their home office a little differently. While it doesn’t tell the exact time, it is pretty close but the gift isn’t about the accuracy. It’s about style and if you know a graphic designer with a unique sense of style, this will go over big.
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Forget numbers, this unique clock has a matrix of words which are selectively highlighted to display the correct time.
- The time is displayed as text in five minute intervals, with 4 LED ■ Indicating the minutes
- Beautiful Aluminum Clock Face, Wall mount or desktop with built-in stand.
- NEW! Brightness Adjustment: Set the Clock Brightness on Low to use in a bedroom at night
- Dimensions: 12” x 12” - Includes AC adapter/ Unit will operate on AC power only
Branding: In Five and a Half Steps by Michael Johnson
The best gift for a book lover
Michael Johnson is one of the biggest names in graphic design with clients that include Virgin Atlantic, Think London and BFI and has been the recipient of many awards in his field. In Branding, Johnson takes everyday brands and breaks them down to their most basic components to help us understand why we choose one product or service over another. With more than 1,000 illustrations and case studies, anyone who is a book lover or needs help developing branding strategies to help their business should read this book.
See here for more top branding books
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Thames & Hudson
- Hardcover Book
- Johnson, Michael (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 320 Pages - 11/15/2016 (Publication Date) - Thames & Hudson (Publisher)
Design & Branding Books
You can never have enough books! Here are a few of my favorite branding and logo books.
Pantone Colour Book
Keep your colors spot on with a Pantone color book, an essential for every designer.
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Two-guide set with 1, 867 solid colors and ink formulations
- Match PANTONE matching system (pms) solid colors on press
- Colors arranged in chromatic format, with 112 new colors displayed on both coated and uncoated paper
- Set demonstrates the effects of printing on coated and uncoated stocks for each color
- Two-guides are included: solid coated and solid uncoated
The Best Christmas Gifts for Designers 2021
Shopping for someone who works as a designer can be tough. It can be tough to know what to buy someone no matter what career they have but we hope that with our list of the best Christmas gifts for designers in 2021, we’ve made that process a bit easier.
Have any other great gift ideas for designers? Let us know below. Share them in the comments below!
Happy Holidays!
Cover photo by Gareth Wood
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