Filed under: Features, Holidays, Graphic Design
The graphic designer's holiday gift guide
From tablets to type, finding the right gift for the choosy graphics expert in your life can be frustrating. Here are plenty of ideas at a variety of price points that should make any designer merry and joyful.
Graphics Tablets 
For any designer, a graphics tablet is a great way to illustrate, or just precisely control your mouse. I started using one about eight years ago to cope with RSI, and I've never looked back. Wacom offers the Graphire Wireless 6" x 8" tablet that connects to your Mac via Bluetooth. (It's not entirely wireless, however: you have to plug it in to charge it.) You can use it up to 30 feet away. If Bluetooth isn't your thing, or charging your tablet every night doesn't sound like fun, the Intuos 3 USB tablet is available in a variety of sizes, including 6" x 8". The USB version also offers more dynamic pressure sensitivity, touch strips, accessories, and a five-button mouse.
SlimKey v2 
Keeping your desk tidy is a constant challenge for the designer. Designers tend to fall into three categories when organizing their desks: the piler, the spreader, and whatever. In any case, keeping your monitor up and away from the mess is sometimes helpful (or, it gives you more room to spread stuff into). The SlimKey v2 raises your iMac or Cinema Display with a spiffy ribbon of aluminum designed to match your hardware. Plus, it features four powered USB 2.0 ports: very handy if you have an iMac and a lot of peripherals.
- SlimKey v2: $65
Mimobot Designer USB Flash Drives 
And here you thought flash drives were boring. Mimobot offers a whole range of characters, from Star Wars to the Happy Tree Friends, and from artists like Gary Baseman and Friends with You. They're available in capacities ranging from 1GB to 8GB, and are an adorable way to carry your files around. Guaranteed to get comments in otherwise boring meetings.
- Mimobot Flash Drives: $35 - $100, depending on capacity
Helvetica Notebook
Ah, Helvetica. The most perfect font ever created. Love it or hate it, this two-sided notebook has you covered: it features a friendly quote on one side, and reveals its darker intent on the other. Ruled throughout with additional quotes in unobtrusive 3 pt. type. Favor one side or work from both, toward the middle. A center divider keeps the peace. 192 pages, 6 3/4" x 8 1/2".
- Helvetica Notebook: $22
Helvetica: A Documentary Film by Gary Hustwit 
Speaking of Helvetica, if the graphic designer in your life didn't get this last year, then for shame. Helvetica is a feature-length independent film about typography, graphic design and global visual culture. It looks at the proliferation of one typeface as part of a larger conversation about the way type affects our lives. The film is an exploration of urban spaces in major cities and the type that inhabits them, and a fluid discussion with renowned designers about their work, the creative process, and the choices and aesthetics behind their use of type.
- Helvetica DVD: $20
- Also available on iTunes: $3 to rent, $10 to buy
The FAQ Mousepad
From House Industries: Did you ever notice that when you plug a new mouse into a Windows machine it gives you this cryptic message that says "New human interface device detected." This seems like a really complicated way to say "Hey, you just plugged in a new mouse," which is why House Industries is a Macintosh shop. But in the interest of serving all users of pointing apparatus, this humaninterfacedevicepad fully cross-platform compatible. Don't buy one if you're already purchasing lots of other stuff because Lou will probably comp you like you're a high roller in Vegas.
- FAQ Mousepad: $10
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ash said 10:45AM on 11-21-2008
I have a tablet, don't need a mousepad or thumbdrives, but the books, and SlimKey look very cool.
Good post.
http://www.lemonlimedesigns.ca/blog
Reply
BT said 10:55AM on 11-21-2008
I like the SlimKey but take my tidiness further by using Apple's wireless keyboard and Mighty Mouse. When not in use, they fit nicely in the drawer. Now if they could work out a wireless monitor ...
Reply
Alex said 11:05AM on 11-21-2008
This is a pretty short list, I would have liked to have seen more.
This is not spam but I want to contribute to the list by linked to a website with some awesome shirts made by artists and designers
http://www.designbyhumans.com/shop/browse/mens/
Reply
Robert Palmer said 11:21AM on 11-21-2008
Don't worry Alex, there are plenty more gift guides coming from all the TUAW staff this holiday season. Stay tuned!
Joseph said 5:09PM on 11-21-2008
@ Robert Palmer
I love your music.
Tom said 11:26AM on 11-21-2008
Nice idea for a post - definitely some ideas for my christmas list :)
So what about non-designer Mac folk? Hoping there's more to come
Reply
Jash Sayani said 10:42AM on 11-22-2008
Yeah... What about a Programmer Mac folk....
Hope to see something for that too......
Bryan Veloso said 1:13PM on 11-21-2008
If I may suggest an item to add to your list. Behance's Dot Grid Book (http://www.creativesoutfitter.com/Products/Dot-Grid-Book/9) is a perfect gift for the designer in your life. And if you are a designer, you should be getting one too. It's definitely an awesome sketchbook, very durable. :)
Reply
Dman said 2:40PM on 11-21-2008
I'm personally using the super-cheap but clean IKEA Mouse Pads. Only $1.00. http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10104455
Reply
michaelb said 5:58PM on 11-21-2008
I love my bluetooth graphire! Look for it refurbished, mine was only 100 with shipping and it has been perfect.
Reply
Mark Grodzki said 10:20PM on 11-21-2008
Also check out http://www.chopshopstore.com for some designer-specific related tees as well as just generally nerdy ones related to movies, sci-fi, etc. this 51 robots design got lots of blog mentions last spring (http://www.chopshopstore.com/product.php?productid=16186) and there is even a Apple IIe related tee (http://www.chopshopstore.com/product.php?productid=16148) that is on sale for $10!
Reply
Rafael said 1:56PM on 11-24-2008
i agree who said this is a very short list...
i expected much more ..
Reply
Tyler said 12:06PM on 11-25-2008
Ok, I know Helvetica is a good, powerful font, but does anyone else feel that it is overused? Not quite as much as papyrus or times new roman, but I am getting a little bored with helvetica.
Anyone else?
Reply
PrintPlace.com said 7:45PM on 12-02-2008
I do love Helvetica and I don’t think it gets old because it’s so simple and is appropriate for so many design venues. The USB flash drives are very cute and practical; perfect for a gift now that I think about it. Great list! Thanks for sharing.
Reply