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Ivan's picture

What to get a creative for birthday?

Most creatives have cool toys and many other infantile inspiring little objects on their desks. And, they are very peculiar about the stuff in their proximity. It can be a real challenge to find the right gift for a designer. Do you have any suggestions for a great gift?

3dogmama's picture
1633 pencils

One never grows tired of diamonds or dinner....

But on a serious gift note, many creatives enjoy music--either give them credits to spend online downloading their faves, or the units to play them on.

Canvas and some good oils, pastels, charcoals, and so forth. Get physically drawing again. My other creato friends are always talking about returning to the basics of art. I think if presented with the tools, it might be just the kickstart they/we needed.

Journals for writing, doodling, an idea well. Make it a leather-bound unit with a really cool cover design, with good quality cotton paper inside.

A print of their favourite artist, professionally framed. Tickets to live theatre or a concert.

A day at the spa. Those shoulders and back could really use some pampering after being hunched over a computer for so long.

ttfn!
3dogmama

Paddle faster, I hear banjos.

pub3abn's picture
21 pencils

My creative staff like puzzles and building stuff ... I don't know how typical that is. But I bought them artsy desk puzzles, which they enjoyed. Also things like Executive Magz (http://www.officeplayground.com/executivemagz.html?productid=executivemagz&channelid=BIZRA) are cool.

I've also given iTunes gift certificates and yummy stuff. Those are always appreciated.

Kilik's picture
70 pencils
Pete's picture
52 pencils

Gift certificate to an art store? Not sure why Apple doesn't have gift cards for their retail stores yet...

Ben's picture
120 pencils

There is a great place I just used, rubberstamps.net. They will create art-mounted stamps on wood blocks from any design you send them. I wish I had a picture of the stamp they made for my upcoming wedding. It's laser cut and very detailed.

I would also love to have a Print Gocco.

KellyR's picture
387 pencils

Thanks for the link to that desk toy site. I want to buy something for ME!

I think the gift all depends on the person, really. Some people I'd get something really big and exquisite, some people i know would be satisfied with something simple... depends on what kind of art they're into (and not just digital).

I think music, nice pens or pencils, journals (blank, please, no lines!), fun toys, artwork, etc. all make great gifts.

onegirlcreative's picture
1069 pencils

Where can I purchase one of those Pantone mugs, Ivan??? Those are so cool.

suzanne maestri-walters :: graphic designer :: www.onegirlcreative.com

--------
"The name's Bond, James Bond."

www.onegirlcreative.com

chicharrón's picture
10 pencils

of the industry? Definitely not the "Ker ning" t-shirt though. Too many designers or copywriters who like to art direct have it already.

Here's a place that sells some Pantone dinnerware but I think Ivan's are so much nicer:
http://www.fishseddy.com/browse.cfm/2,87.html

(-_-)

pub3abn's picture
21 pencils

There's also Pantone colored USB flash drives: http://www.pantone.com/pages/flashdrives/product.aspx

(with FREE laser engraving and FREE logo setup)

onegirlcreative's picture
1069 pencils

That is really cool. I will have to order one (or a few). Good prices, too. Thanks.

suzanne maestri-walters :: graphic designer :: www.onegirlcreative.com

--------
"The name's Bond, James Bond."

www.onegirlcreative.com

Jpeg's picture
3 pencils

I might trust the Pantone Mugs over the swatch books!

stephanie's picture
522 pencils

I personally like these, haha:

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Perfectly Lost Designs

chicharrón's picture
10 pencils

(-_-)

JimD's picture
2509 pencils

I'd rather have a 30" Cinema Display ;-)

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Visit The Graphic Mac for graphics and Mac OS tips, reviews, tutorials and discussion.

Tice's picture
28 pencils

I recently bought this little piece of art:
http://www.perfsci.com/souvenirs.htm

But you can do nice things by yourself like this:
http://blog.tice.de/beitrag.php?file=2006_01_30_0805&sprache=englisch

pokie's picture
1213 pencils

My husband bought me the USB powered mittens for my birthday last year. :)

He also showed me some earrings for web chicks. The one on the left says, "head", the one on the right says, "/head" (but with the brackets, the forum wouldn't let me type them. Pretty clever.

I'm thinking about buying him an ipod touch... trying to figure out all the details.

mStudios's picture
3 pencils

What a great idea. Don't know which color to give? Combine this mug with Colorstrology and the receivers birthdate(s) and the gift is perfect.

---marlyse

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