What gift should I get for a famous graphic designer?

February 27, 2006 2:27 PM

Design metafilterites: If you had $100-150 to spend on a thank you gift for someone who is an acclaimed and famous graphic designer what would you get?

My first thoughts would be a cool USB drive or a design book of some sort. Obviously, I want to get him something he doesn't have but that's always hard to assess.

posted by jeremias to media & arts (29 comments total)

150 dollars could yeild a pretty nice foutain pen (nothing spectacular, but...)
posted by stratastar at 2:34 PM on February 27, 2006

Instead of something new and flashy, put that money towards something vintage. Are there antique shops in your area, or do you have enough time for some eBaying?

Vintage advertising materials, signs, boardgames, books, typographical specimens, ephemera... It's a way to ensure a unique gift, and designer-types eat that stuff up.

At least I sure do!
posted by Robot Johnny at 2:34 PM on February 27, 2006

I was going to suggest a bag of pot, but I think Robot Johnny's suggestion is better.
posted by MegoSteve at 2:44 PM on February 27, 2006

RJ has excellent suggestions; perhaps a bottle of wine?
posted by AllesKlar at 2:46 PM on February 27, 2006

Graphic designers like books about design - especially design in other fields. $150 could get something really kick ass, like this for example. I'd love to own that - instead of something that sits on a shelf, I'd get far more practical and intellectual use out of it.
posted by BorgLove at 3:08 PM on February 27, 2006 [1 favorite]

If the recipient is into cool, funky stuff (as opposed to classic and refined) and you decide to go the USB drive route, check out mimobots. They're cool. But if the recipient is more sophisticated, I'd go with a super-nice bottle of wine.
posted by lilybeane at 3:13 PM on February 27, 2006

perpetual calendar?
posted by idontlikewords at 3:16 PM on February 27, 2006

Does this person use a WACOM? An intuos 2, perhaps?

I, for one, would love a designer pen. :/ Or a myriad of other expensive but not "necessary" accesories to baby my baby Intuos.

$150 really can't get much of a fountain pen; the Parker Sonnet is about that much, with a 18kt nib. They're beautiful, but it ain't no Pelikan.

Another thing would be a portable sketchbook, with soft deer skin cover and cotton paper. 5" x 7" or so would be perfect. I see them at craft shows and "one of a kind" shows but I'm too cheap to buy one for myself...
posted by Sallysings at 3:35 PM on February 27, 2006

WACOM accessories. (forgot to link)
posted by Sallysings at 3:36 PM on February 27, 2006

I bought an artist (cartoonist) friend of mine some very nice, very classy, glass pens in a wooden box, with inks.
posted by Kickstart70 at 3:39 PM on February 27, 2006

Speaking as a graphic designer myself, I'd be cautious about giving a "design" present like a book unless the recipient's tastes were well known to you. The various typographical mugs from p22 might be one idea. Emigre is probably a love-or-hate foundry now, but some people might get a kick out of owning a Zuzana Licko pot. The British Library store has lots of books on book design history.
posted by zadcat at 3:40 PM on February 27, 2006

A subscription to Communication Arts might not be a bad idea.
posted by TeamBilly at 3:43 PM on February 27, 2006

What about something personal? If the famous designer has a blog, you can probably get some idea of what they enjoy. Is there mention of a new baby in the family? Dreams of travel to some exotic destination? A favorite wine? Giving something unexpected and personal would be a thoughtful way to express appreciation for the recipient's work and the person him-/herself.
posted by nakedcodemonkey at 3:48 PM on February 27, 2006

Book ideas here.
posted by evariste at 4:24 PM on February 27, 2006

A gift certificate from an arts supply store, with a note attached that says s/he has to spend at least half of it on media/materials that s/he doesn't normally work with.
posted by planetkyoto at 4:30 PM on February 27, 2006

Speaking as a graphic designer myself, I'd be cautious about giving a "design" present like a book unless the recipient's tastes were well known to you.

I have to second this. If there's something designwise in my field that I think is cool or really want, chances are I've already got it. I'm an architect, and you can't imagine how annoying it is to get Frank Lloyd Wright shit. Sure, there's "always the thought that counts", but how much thought does it really take to get a Frank Lloyd Wright book for an architect?

Also, people that draw for a living are ridiculously picky about their writing/drafting instruments (at least I am, and so are most of the people I work with). If you get me a pen or pencil and it doesn't provide an orgasmic experience compared the one that's my bread and butter and use day in and day out, it'll probably end up in the back of a desk drawer somewhere.

I'll second the alcohol/usable goods suggestion, and I've also been known to appreciate nifty little knicknacks from museum stores. $100 would be able to get a pretty nice functional (or whimsical--but those are usually pretty cheap) item at your local art museum.
posted by LionIndex at 4:32 PM on February 27, 2006

Yes, I'm wary of the book and pen ideas because they may be something already owned or don't fit in with aesthetic tastes. I'd like to stay away from gift certificates- too impersonal. I'm liking the portable sketchbook and ephemera ideas. Any other ideas in this vein?
posted by jeremias at 5:57 PM on February 27, 2006

A really kickass bottle of wine.
posted by Thorzdad at 6:16 PM on February 27, 2006

if you wanna go with wine, I'd suggest a nice Brunello di Montalcino, Chateau Margaux, a 99ish Latiffe-Rothchild, maybe an Opus One (albeit I'm not a fan of Mondavi co...). Conterno-Fantino Barolo Sori Ginestra 2001 is supposed to be magnificent...
posted by stratastar at 8:18 PM on February 27, 2006

When I do this type of gifting, I like to assemble collections of local or unconventional foods and items. For example, with $150 you could get the designer a nice premium rum, some fine Boston chocolates, a few 20-packs of "designed" baggies (great for storing odds&ends in the office), and a funky Skull & Bones bowtie. There's still money left over to pick up cheap vintage ephemera from an antiques store. And if the designer isn't from the Boston/New England area, throw in a can of the curiously odd canned brown bread and a can of Boston baked beans to go with it for pure kitsch value.
posted by junesix at 9:13 PM on February 27, 2006

Of course I can only recommend the above for a young designer - get wine for an elder statesman of graphic design.
posted by junesix at 9:16 PM on February 27, 2006

Anything from www.cerealart.com.
posted by extrabox at 9:50 PM on February 27, 2006

Gift cert to a posh restaraunt, maybe?
posted by blueplasticfish at 10:46 PM on February 27, 2006

My Mom is a designer and she has all the books and pens (Bics) she needs. I'd recommend a non-design theme, maybe wine, dinner vouchers etc. Some of her clients have given her gifts for her grandchildren and she was really touched that they remembered. The clients that have given her pet-related gifts (she has two dogs) are only slightly lower down the scale. Having said that she never expects gifts and is delighted each and every time.
posted by fshgrl at 12:27 AM on February 28, 2006

i go with fshgrl why not a bottle of louis roederer cristal champane
posted by baker dave at 2:41 AM on February 28, 2006

The Logitech NuLOOQ looks very interesting, costs $150. As a graphics pro, this is something I would never spend the money on myself, but would love to recieve as a gift. Mac only for now.
posted by Scoo at 4:29 AM on February 28, 2006

a single Champiagn flute from tiffanys
posted by crewshell at 11:34 PM on February 28, 2006

i second the mimobot idea - they're funky fresh. i use mine every day and love it to death. it's as unique as it is useful, and will be remembered for a long time. plus, they're limited edition, so it's doubtful someone else will have the same character...
posted by tatohead at 5:25 PM on March 1, 2006

I liked the NuLOOQ better when it was the Grioffin PowerMate.
posted by jjg at 6:30 PM on October 19, 2006