‘Tis the holiday season and nearing the end of the semester for our students. And what better way is there to celebrate the end of the year than to show appreciation for each other? However, there are so many gift options that it can be overwhelming to find just the right one. We can’t give you the exact answer, but we might be able to help with our shortlist of fifteen gift ideas you could give a designer in your life! This list complements our previous article, so if you need more ideas, please visit Year-Round Gifts for the Architect in your Life!
As always, we’d like to make a disclaimer that budgeting is subjective, so please make sure to stay within your means when shopping! Remember, it’s not always about the gift, but the thought and act of giving someone a present can mean the world to them.
1. Blue Light Glasses
As someone who grew up wearing thick and clunky glasses, I swore off glasses when introduced to contact lenses! However, blue light glasses can be a critical “eye-tem” to protect your vision. I noticed a significant reduction in eye strain when I picked up a pair, and with today’s virtual climate, it’s even more critical for architects and designers in your life! Luckily, they come in all styles, so this is where you can take the time and consider the individual’s style or personality to really put thought behind it! It’s a great gift to save their vision and complement their wardrobe too!
2. Books
Books are one of the safest options for anyone, and they can be formal or informal reading for designers! Not sure what book? Don’t worry; we have a living library with a few ideas, and you can check throughout the year to see if there are any additions. On the other hand, we highly encourage designers to recommend books if it’s not in our library!
If there is anything architects like doing more than designing buildings, it’s talking about architecture! Architects are well-versed, whether musing about their inspirations, expanding on each other’s thoughts, or dishing out a clever quip. So if you are looking for a good laugh and opinionated quotes from designers or architects, then consider “The Architect Says.”
3. Funny Architect Mugs
Need we say more? Funny mugs can be a niche market within our audience, but mugs are great presents for our caffeine and tea lovers! You could consider glancing through vendors on Etsy or your local boutique stores; that way, it could have a more personal touch and support creatives!
4. Field Notebooks
Like books, you can never go wrong with a nice sketchbook for a creative individual, and yes, they may only use a half before getting another one, but they will still love it! Architects and designers can find inspirations in a rain or shine situation, so small sketchbooks that fit into a pocket can compliment larger sketchbooks!
Co-founded by Aaron Draplin, a well-known American graphic designer, Field Notes offers standard compact sketchbooks and limited edition series! Once sold out, Field Notes Brand doesn’t produce the previous series anymore, so this gift can add a level of personal touch and exclusivity!
5. Geometric Planters
Geometric planters are an excellent present for people who love geometric forms and plants! We love duality, geometric shapes holding a non-geometric organism, and you can’t go wrong here! A worldwide favorite idea is geometric concrete planters or magnetically levitating planters that we see from a handful of Pinterest boards! Another great option can be glass terrariums if the individual prefers succulent plants!
6. Weighted Blankets
It’s safe to say that we are strong advocates of sleep, and individuals in this field tend to lack it! Weighted blankets are great presents for individuals who need or love sleep and enjoy hugs! Now, instead of sleeping for another fifteen minutes, it might turn into an hour of much-needed rest and warmth!
7. Gradient Puzzles
Do you know architects or designers that love puzzles? How about a challenge because gradient puzzles are another level of puzzles! These are great mind relaxers as we are sure it’ll take some time to get all the colors and pieces just right.
8. Kintsugi Kit
Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken items by mending the areas of breakage with urushi lacquer followed by dusting with powdered gold. The Kintsugi technique originated under Ashigaka Yoshimasa (1435-1490) during the Muromachi period. Yoshimasa liked surrounding himself with artists and poets in his temple-palace Ginkaku-ji, and it was him who gave birth to the tea ceremony in Japan. A beautiful representation of broken things that will never return to their original form, it may be similar but it’s an entirely different form!
This Kintsugi Kit allows recipients to practice the art of kintsugi in the comforts of their home, and create truly one-of-a-kind results in the end. Architects well understand that the world is not perfect, but they also understands that the beauty lies in embracing the imperfections. The Kintsugi Kit is a peculiar gift, so make sure it’s something the receiver will enjoy!
9. Monochromatic Clothing
A funny stereotype of designers is that they LOVE wearing black or having a monochromatic wardrobe. We aren’t entirely sure why it is so, but stereotypes must come from some truth, am I right? Besides, black clothing just looks so good, so whether it’s turtlenecks, jackets, scarves, and etc. Designers will know how to make a statement with minimal colors!
10. 3D Printers
3D printers have been on the rise for architects, designers, and tinkerers wanting to quickly explore different iterations at a high-volume production rate with minimal errors! This additive technology can help your designer save time, and in return, they may be able to use the weighted blanket to get some more sleep!
The price for a 3D printer can range depending on its specifications for its filament hold, printable volume, nozzle, etc. If you are on a budget, you can opt for more affordable options or band together with a few friends to make it a large group present for the lucky individual.
11. Drones
Drones have been a growing tool within the architecture industry for their extreme usefulness with site visits and documentation. With the advancements in recent years, drones now come in a variety of sizes that fit different budgets. Whether they are designers, architects, photographers, or videographers, drones are fantastic presents that can be used professionally or recreationally! Just make sure the recipient can handle an aircraft and not crash it into the wall!
12. Monitors or Portable Monitors
With today’s virtual climate, the opportunity to work anywhere remotely has skyrocketed. And with it, the need for monitors for home settings or portable monitors for on-the-go work. Portable monitors have made great strides this year, and they range in price! The only downside is determining whether the portable monitor can connect to the laptop! If you are hoping to surprise a friend with this gift and don’t know what type of connection you need, then there are adapters to fix the issue without tipping your gift away. This isn’t a problem for traditional monitors, but it’s important to scan through the reviews to find the right monitor for your person!
13. Bluetooth Headphones
Take it to the gym, jam with songs on a stroll, or buckle down with noise-canceling headphones to knock out some work, whichever the case, a pair of good wireless headphones or headset is a universal safe gift for anyone! Wireless headphones can save situations, like dragging your laptop or knocking something over when it catches. Not being tethered to a fixed point is not only liberating but also productive when you need to move around a lot, like when you are making a physical model.
14. Standing desk
Like monitors, it’s important to have a good working space now that working from home is a viable option. And what better way than to have a standing desk? Standing desks are great presents for practically anyone that find themselves sitting all day or long periods, which isn’t exactly kind on the butt or lower back!
Standing desks can also help an individual feel more productive by having them stand and allow better circulation! Not sure where to look, we recently came across Solos-it standing desks, and it could help narrow down some choices for you!
15. Tourbox NEO
The Tourbox NEO is a lightweight and durable, ergonomic design peripheral that allows you to control multiple functions of design software with one hand, sparing you from all the complicated shortcut keys. The controller comes with a variety of buttons, dials, and switches to be mapped to your desired shortcuts, giving you a fully customizable tool catered to your creative software needs! The Tourbox NEO is great for digital painting, color mixing, graphic design, image, audio, and video editing, so it can be a great gift to your designer to optimize their time! Luckily for you, we teamed up with Tourbox, and Ben’s recent video shared his experience and the unboxing of the Tourbox NEO controller!
Get $10 off your purchase with our coupon code: ArchiHacks
Ultimately, the best gift you can offer any designer in your life is the appreciation of their time and work. Designing is a far cry from being easy, but relationships and good bonds, at times, will save themselves from our own insanity. The holiday season, as it should any day, is a good reminder that everyone’s journey is different and challenging, so being thoughtful can go a long way! I hope you found this article interesting and took something from it! Sharing is caring! We hope to provide you with valuable insights and share them with someone who might find this helpful. Make sure to follow our Youtube and Instagram for more content!