From books and stationary, to tech and experiences, here’s a selection of everything the design enthusiast in your life could possibly want for Christmas.
Inspired by the Designing Duggee display currently on show at the Design Museum, this workshop has been created to introduce children to design. Children from the age of two can learn how to design new characters in 2D and 3D and explore shapes, textures and colours.
An alternative to a traditional chocolate-filled advent calendar, this Roger La Borde 3D calendar comes with two sheets of pop-out icons. It features a two-storey house filled with festive scenes.
This build-it-yourself kit allows children to build glasses that mimic the vision of different animals. By building the frames differently each time, children can experiment with four visions: eagles (aerial vision), rays (downward), insects (kaleidoscopic) and fish (lateral).
Visitors can choose from either an Airbus A380 or Boeing 777 simulator experience and each session is suitable for up to four people.
Neon Workshop – Neon Workshops, WF1 1DL – £275.00 for whole day
An intensive session, taught by expert neon craftspeople, this workshop allows you to design and create your own neon light sign. Attendees will be guided in creating their glass work and then filling it with neon gas, and are able to take home their creations afterward.
Lego House Tour – Ole Kirks Plads 1, 7190 Billund, Denmark – tickets from 79 DKK (~£9.00) (pictured above)
Go behind the scenes of the iconic children’s (and adult’s) toy with this tour, guided by Lego experts. From the company’s beginnings, to its worldwide success today, you and up to 16 others will be inducted into the world of Lego.
This particular fountain pen has the seal of approval from the German Design Council, which last month awarded it a German Design Award in the “Excellent Product Design” category. It comes in a variety of weights and colours and is ideal for most writing and sketching purposes.
Designed to make an iPad screen look and feel like real paper, the PaperLike is supposed to be perfect for “graphic artists, designers, and any creative who yearns for the feel of paper but the ease of an iPad.” It’s available in seven different sizes and each set comes with two screen protectors with Nanodot technology, screen wipes and dust absorbers.
The perfect stocking filler for those who are limited for bag space, this ruler is a compact version of the handy designers’ tool.
Clothes and accessories
Attaché case – Elvis & Kresse – £320.00 (pictured above)
Made from decommissioned London Fire Brigade fire hose, this piece makes for the perfect sustainable business bag. It’s available in red and yellow, and comes with a key and lock and fully adjustable shoulder strap. It is also available for customisation.
Read more about how Elvis & Kresse and other brands are styling sustainability here.
These lightweight, boldly designed earrings have been 3D-printed with biodegradable plastic. Available in two colours, you can choose from either warm pink and ivory, or mint and Colour of the Year Classic Blue.
Another Classically Blue fashion statement, these trainers are one of four limited-edition styles that have been released to celebrate the 2020 colour of the year. As well as being colourfully on-trend, these shoes are true to Cariuma’s sustainable mission, made from high-end raw cotton canvas, sustainable rubber and cork.
Read more about the Pantone colour of the year here.
The second bestseller by graphic designer Marcus Kraft, this book lies somewhere between self-help and nostalgia. Giving advice on all things love using the words of pop culture icons before him, Kraft’s typography-led book is simple, effective and eco-friendly.
The Nature of Play – by Clare Aitken, published by Fanny & Alexander– £16.99 (pictured above)
For the family looking to escape screen time, The Nature of Play provides 44 nature-based activities designed to be undertaken all year-round, in the form of recipes, flora and fauna guides and tasks. Alongside these adventures are original illustrations by Sabrina Arnault and Hiromi Suzuki.
For 30 years, Ian Anderson and his Designers Republic have helped shape the face of pop culture we recognise today. This book charts the studio’s work in A-Z fashion, providing readers with 30 years of design history.
Tom Dixon’s candle range has been given an update this year and are now come in a sleek, slim-waisted vessel and are available in a variety of sizes. For the person who can’t choose, the giftset provides the best way to experience some of the range’s best offerings, featuring the scents London, Orientalist and Royalty.
A new cookware collection from Tiipoi, this selection of bowls, pans and pots are crafted in limited numbers using the unique ceramic materials from Longpi, a remote village in the north east of India. They have been handmade by master craftsman Mathew Sasa and a group of young artisans and Tiipoi says the natural properties of the materials are ideal for preserving cooking ingredients’ oils and flavours, while also being non-stick.
Static table clock – designed by Richard Sapper, reissued by Lorenz Milano – €439.00 (~£370.00) (pictured in banner image)
Originally developed by Richard Sapper in 1960, the Static table clock launched the late designer’s career and won him the Compasso d’Oro award, one of Italy’s most prestigious accolades. The reissued clock has been technically updated and now comes in both lacquered finished (red, white or black) and in brushed and polished gold, steel or gun metal.
Secret Santa – under £10
ChattyFeetHave a great weekend from Frida Callus! If you’re going to an art exhibition, make sure to take Frida with you!
This DIY kit contains one brass model that can be folded into shape using the instructions with no tools or adhesives required. A low-key desk ornament or paperweight or an after-dinner activity, this kit by Another Studio is also available in other designs including: submarine, Ferris wheel, globe and helicopter.
Perfect for the forward-planner in your life, this keyring allows its user to find the day of the week for any future date for the next 50 years. It works by lining up dials, which reveal the dates on its stainless steel face.
Artist socks – Chatty Feet – £8.00 (pictured above)
With a wide variety of artist-inspired socks, gift-givers need only match their recipient with the ideal Chatty Feet pair. Choose from the likes of “David Sock-Knee”, “Basquiatoe”, “Frida Callus” and “Roy Lichtenstoe”.
