Architects love ????

August 19, 2015 8:45 AM

I'm looking for suggestions for a nice gift that could be given to clients of a large building company- most of the clients are architects. So architects of Mefi- have you ever received something really cool that was perfect for your tastes and relevant to your trade?

I am asking because I have an opportunity to design and fabricate something to be used as a client gift. I would be making about 100 items. The materials could be any metal (I am a sculptor), leather, or actually just about anything as I have lots of experience fabricating professionally and can figure out how to create just about anything. My current studio is set up for jewelry making, but I can sculpt and cast or sew just about anything. Assume that the budget is generous. So architects- any ideas of small items that you would love to get as a gift? Could be useful or decorative or both.

posted by catrae to Media & Arts (12 answers total)

I saw a cool business card holder that looked like blueprints once.
posted by edbles at 8:46 AM on August 19, 2015

Best answer: Actual physical prints are slowly going the way of the dinosaur, but I've worked in offices where a couple guys had things like these, and I seriously coveted one. If it also included some kind of way to carry a couple pens and a drafting scale (triangular ruler, nothing to do with measuring weight) or some other implements, that would be amazing.
posted by LionIndex at 9:06 AM on August 19, 2015 [1 favorite]

my bf is an architect and he looooves legos. could be an interesting idea to incorporate into whatever you decide to mold/construct.
posted by monologish at 9:06 AM on August 19, 2015

Oh, yeah, my sister-in-law and her graduating architecture class made a whole Lego-themed yearbook, each graduating senior had their own little injoke-filled Lego Guy portrait. Lego is the gateway drug for lots of architects, and they have soft spots for them. No idea how to incorporate that into a design but it's a thing for sure.

Another idea: some way to personalize hard hats without taking away their safety features.
posted by tchemgrrl at 9:49 AM on August 19, 2015 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I once got a beautiful steel tray as a gift and I love it - it's very cool and sleek and the name of the business who gave it as their christmas gift is very discreetly engraved on the underside.
Another cool gift, which maybe needs an explanatory note, is a drafting weight. In the old, old, old days, before computers, but also before tape, architects and draughtsmen used little weights to keep their drawings in place on the table. I googled and saw a lot of little sand-bags, but they could also be brass or steel weights, back in the day
posted by mumimor at 9:55 AM on August 19, 2015 [1 favorite]

The lego idea is intriguing as there are companies now that put together custom kits. You could create a small kit related to your project and they would fulfill it. Your job would be to make the design and aesthetics relate.
posted by werkzeuger at 10:18 AM on August 19, 2015

The National Building Museum in DC is run by the American Institute of Architects and has an outstanding gift shop filled with architectural and design gifts - utensils that are also design elements, probably the card holder, ties with skylines and oh so much themed as Frank Lloyd Wright. An absolutely wonderful place to browse. The National Building Museum is one of the hidden wonders of DC. I take everyone who visits and go often without visitors.
posted by Measured Out my Life in Coffeespoons at 10:44 AM on August 19, 2015 [2 favorites]

Sorry, I didn't see the bit about fabricating your own. Still, a lot of ideas.
posted by Measured Out my Life in Coffeespoons at 10:45 AM on August 19, 2015

Another cool gift, which maybe needs an explanatory note, is a drafting weight. In the old, old, old days, before computers, but also before tape, architects and draughtsmen used little weights to keep their drawings in place on the table. I googled and saw a lot of little sand-bags, but they could also be brass or steel weights, back in the day

They may just be standards scale weights, but these make an appearance in Ant-Man when Cross is at Pym's house, if you need a reference for how they're supposed to work.
posted by LionIndex at 11:13 AM on August 19, 2015 [1 favorite]

The best gifts I have received have honestly been design books. You'd be surprised how many times we use them for inspiration. Another option (because design books can get ridiculously expensive) are blank Moleskin sketch books like this. I carry one around everywhere and use it for meetings, ideas on the fly etc. Sketchbooks are always appreciated. A nice set of pens aren't bad either, but that gets way into personal taste. Unruled Moleskin's are pretty much universal.
posted by Benway at 3:03 PM on August 19, 2015

Best answer: I am an architect. We love rulers. The nice kind with the cork on the back. There are never enough in any office I have ever worked at. Add a personalized artesianal flair (or not) and you have a perfect gift.
posted by KMoney at 4:50 AM on August 20, 2015

paperweight. I have many large piles of paper. bonus points if it's made of a really nice material that feels good in the hand. Don't make it representational, but try to bring out the best qualities of whatever nice material you pick. Archies will love it.
posted by annie o at 10:25 PM on August 22, 2015