This year, we’re putting together our first ever Meticulous Gift Guides! We’ll be rounding up some of our favourite picks to help you choose some lovely things for all the favourite people in your life. First up is our gift guide for designers, with 10 ideas from delightfully niche stocking fillers to thoughtful presents they will love.
1. Blackwing Pencil Set - £30
Coveted by designers and artists worldwide, Blackwings are the ultimate pencil - once you’ve tried a Blackwing, you can never go back. Available in 3 different grades including firm, balanced and soft, each pencil is topped with a gold ferrule and a colour coordinated square rubber, which can be swapped out - a great touch if you fancy a colour change. The set of 12 pencils comes presented in Blackwing’s visually pleasing iconic packaging which is sure to delight any designer nearly as much as the pencils themselves.
2. Kaweco Aluminium Raw Fountain Pen - £65
No graphic designer can resist a new pen and this new take on Kaweco’s classic sport fountain pen is no exception. The matte, aluminium finish of the beautiful, sleek body gives it a satisfyingly weighty feel and makes it just an absolute pleasure to use. With a fine or medium nib, it comes presented in an engraved metal tin, making it a stunning gift. Also available in Rose Gold.
3. FAF Desk Pad - From £20
One of our most loved items, the FAF desk pad is a perfect accessory to any designer’s desk. Available in 3 sizes, it is ideal for list making, note taking, doodling and sketching. With a sleek brass base and handy non-sleep feet, it comes with micro-perforated smooth wove paper that can be pulled out with one hand. Refill pads available as plain or dot paper.
4. Zebra Mildliner Highlighter Pen - £2.50
A fresh take on the classic highlighter, the Zebra Mildliner highlighter pen makes the perfect stocking filler. Available in 5 colours, these pens feature a chisel tip on one end and a fine tip on the other - great for use in journals and notebooks.
5. Midori Brass Pencil - £30
We love this clever yet simple concept from Japanese brand Midori. The brass casing holds a small wooden pencil which retracts back when not in use, making it the perfect portable pencil. The body oxidises over time too, giving it a beautiful, unique finish.
6. Standard Issue Notebook No.80 by DesignWorks - £22
Give the gift of organisation with this date-free, planner journal from American brand DesignWorks Ink. Available in lovely dusty colours, each notebook has a hardback cover with that all important lay flat binding, 2 ribbon markers and plenty of lovely little features like a bullet key and a perpetual calendar for keeping track of important dates.
7. M+R Brass Double Hole Sharpener - £6.95
Find the beauty in every day things with this solid brass double hole sharpener by German brand Mobius + Ruppert. Featuring a large hole as well as a standard one, it’s a great solution for those jumbo pencils. Plus, its satisfying weight and textured outer edge make it an excellent desk fidget toy.
8. Karin BrushmarkerPRO Neon Pen Set - £30
The vibrant colours and paint-like ink of these Japanese neon brush pens will make them a perfect present for the creative person in your life. The flexible brush tip provides excellent control and with 12 colours in each set, they are perfect for creating multicoloured, blended effects. As a bonus, the ink works on all kinds of surfaces, from wood and ceramics to glass and metal, making for endless creative possibilities. Also available in Original and Metallic colours.
9. Midori Aluminium Foldable Ruler - £20
Another beautifully functional and aesthetically pleasing item from Midori, this is the ultimate foldable ruler. With its aluminium construction and crisp engraved markings, it snaps together to form a full length ruler and then folds away for handy storage in a pencil case.
10. Goudy Old Style Italic Ampersand Print - £20
It’s no secret designers love ampersands. Perfect for a home office or studio, this A4 letterpress art print features the ever popular Goudy Old Style Italic ampersand softly debossed into our very own 160gsm, 100% cotton paper.
Stay tuned for our next gift guide, specially made for calligraphy lovers!
Comments
In the words of Craig Revel Horwood – absolutely gawwwwjus! this is a phenomenally helpful gift guide, and I say this as the owner of several (ahem) items on this list. The Karin pens are a dream, and I’ve lost count of how very useful the folding ruler has been. Fits in a pencil case yet superlong! The Zebra highlighters are also just the perfect shade of neon – always brighten up a working day. Any recipient would dance a jig and count themselves the luckiest of humans if they were gifted any of these. 10/10, highly recommend.