Not sure what to buy your designer friend or loved one? Need a last minute gift for a designer? Then look no further. A quality item from the list below is sure to please. Merry Christmas for 2008.
Sketch book
What would a designer do without a good sketch book? The brand of choice being the timeless Moleskine Notebook
Pens
Again a cannot do without item, it could be a packet of Paper:Mate Kilometrico’s (At around $3 for 10) all the way through to a fabulous Montblanc
Pencils
Many designers prefer to do their sketching with a pencil as oppose to a pen. Like the Pen there will be a pencil to suit your price range. You could spend a couple of dollars on a Uni-ball Hi-Uni Wooden Pencil or splash out that serious dough on a Graf von Faber-Castell Perfect Pencil
Markers
Utilized at the end of the sketching process to add Pizzaz, the two main marker types of choice are Prisma Colors
Paper
Utilized to sketch on, render on, print on or take notes on. Coming in hundreds of different colours, textures, sizes and weights. Check out Paper Point if you are in Australia, for an amazing range and quality.
Wacom Tablet
While traditional sketching methods are great. In the digital age the tablet is fast becoming the sketching tool of choice. From the small and elegant Bamboo Wacom
External Hardrive
All those digital sketches and CAD work have to be stored somewhere. If your Designer is fast running out of Hard drive space then a decent hard drive that is in the Gigabytes is a great gift to give. Check out the Western Digital My Book 1 TB
Sketch Book Pro or Photoshop
If your Designer already has the gidgets and gadgets for creating sketching and storing their designs, maybe they could do with the latest copy ofSketchbook Pro 2009
If your Designer already sporting all of the above then maybe its time to get them something to help them extend and build their already amazing design skills.
Gnomon DVDs
The Gnomon DVD range is by far the most comprehensive for any design training. With series and individual DVDs on Photoshop, CAD, Hand sketching
Books
There are hundreds upon hundreds of great design books available these days. Here are Design Droplets top five for extending your design knowledge and skills.
Sketching: Drawing Techniques for Product Designers – - Koos Eissen and Roselien Steur
The Ten Faces of Innovation: IDEO’s Strategies for Defeating the Devil’s Advocate and Driving Creativity Throughout Your Organization – Tom Kelly
The Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures
Innovative Product Design Practice: Carl Liu Design Book
Design Management: Using Design to Build Brand Value and Corporate Innovation
We hope that this list has helped you solve the age old dilemma of what you should buy your designer friends and family as a Christmas gift. Again Merry Christmas for 2008
