I thought I would put my Santa hat on and play a little Secret Santa to help you pick the best gifts for the graphic designers & creatives on your list this year!
Grab that list and let’s get going! Here are the best Christmas gifts for designers.
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What do you give a designer for Christmas?
Buying a gift for a graphic designer is a lot like buying gifts for someone who works in construction.
Namely that whatever it is, it needs to be useful and that it’s something that they will be sure to use just about every day.
With these prerequisites in mind, I have come up with a pretty good list this year!
🎁 Christmas Gift Ideas for Designers — Overview
In the spirit of ease, we’ve broken down our gift ideas into 12 easy-to-read categories:
- Most Popular
- Best For Self
- Hardware
- Software
- Books
- Toys, Arts & Crafts
- Decor
- Clothing
- Accessories
- Kitchen & Dining
- Posters & Cards
- Digital Resources
See a category you like? Simply click on the link to go right to that section, otherwise, let’s get started!
6x Fail-Proof Christmas Gifts for Graphic Designers
These gifts will work for any budget and are sure to satisfy the taste of your most-picky designer friend.
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Most Popular & Best Christmas Gifts for Designers
- Fine Point Tip Permanent Markers — The best Markers
- Sony WH-1000XM5 — The best noise-cancelling Earphones
- Wacom Cintiq 16 — The best drawing tablet with ergonomic design
- Apple Watch Series 8 — The best durable smartwatch
- Adobe Creative Cloud Subscription — The best creative software
- DSTELIN Blank Spiral Notebook —The best spiral notebook
- Logitech MX Master 3S — The best mouse for a graphic designer
- SAMSUNG Galaxy S23 Ultra — The best android phone
- Amazon Basics Backpack— The best backpack
- Apple iMac Pro 27″ with 5K Retina Display — The best monitor with 27-inch
- Folding Computer Desk— The best folding computer desk
- Apple iPad Air — The best iPad with great performance
- Shoe Dog— The best inspirational book for startups
- Amazon Basics Desk Chair — The best comfortable Chair
- Microsoft Surface Book 5 — The best laptop for graphic designers
- Field Notes — The best gift for designers
- LED Word Clock — The best word clock
- LG 27UN850-W— The best monitor with impressive design
- Pantone Formula Guide Set— The best color formula guide
Full details on these gifts can be found further below.
More popular gift ideas:
Best Christmas Gifts For Your Designer Self
Treat yourself this Christmas with some of the most popular gifts for designers.
- Adobe Creative Cloud — Get 40-70% off with our Adobe discount
- Envato Elements — Get unlimited downloads to 50+ million items
- Logo Package Express — Create logos x10 faster. Get 80% off here
- Skillshare — Learn new creative skills
- High-End Business Templates for Designers — Grow your creative business
- TheFutur — Level up with courses, digital tools and more
- MyFonts — Grab some new fonts
- 45,000 Icons: RoundIcons — Download all the icons you need
- DesignCuts — Grab some design resources
- Abobe Stock — Get 10 free stock photos
23+ Best Technology & Hardware Gifts for Designers
If you know any graphic designers or creative people in your life, you know how much that they not only love tech gear but how big of an essential it is during their workday.
Our list runs the gamut from the incredible Macbook Pro to the MakerBot Replicator+ 3D Printer.
Hardware Gifts Over $500
- Wacom PTH860 Intuos Pro
- Apple iPad Pro
- Apple MacBook Pro
- Sony Alpha 7C
- LG 65-Inch
- Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max
- Dremel Digilab
Technology Gifts Between $100-$500
- WD 4TB My Passport
- Sony WH-1000XM5
- Logitech G915
- HP OfficeJet Pro
- Wacom Intuous Pro
- Powerbeats Pro
- reMarkable Paper Tablet
- Nintendo Switch OLED
- Datacolor SpyderX ELITE
- Kindle Paperwhite
Hardware Gifts Under $100
- AGS Laser Projection Keyboard
- Logitech MX Master
- MYNT3D 3D Pen Pro
- HUION L4S LED Light Box
- Wacom Cintiq
5+ Best Creative Software for Designers
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Having the best tech possible does very little for a graphic designer or creative without programs to use on it.
From Adobe’s wide-ranging Creative Cloud, to Procreate, a great design app for iPad, there is a program out there for everyone.
- Adobe Creative Cloud — Get 40-70% off with our Adobe discount.
- Affinity Designer
- Procreate
- Sketch
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Illustrator
- AdobeLightroom
- Adobe XD
- Adobe Premier Pro
- Adobe After Effects
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Anime
12+ Best Books and Notebooks for Designers (Great Secret Santa Gifts for Graphic Designers!)
If the graphic designer in your life is at all like us, they spend a lot of their day staring at a screen. Sometimes, a great way to unwind is to sketch some ideas in a notebook or get lost in the pages of a good book that might just get the creative juices flowing. These make for some great Secret Santa gifts for designers.
- Dot Grid Sketchbook
- Moleskine Notebook
- The Spirit of Flight Journal
- Design & Branding Books
- Pantone Solid Guide
- The Ultimate Guide to Logo Design (eBook)
- 1,001 Ways to Be Creative
- Creativity Inc.
- 365 Days of Creativity
- Steal Like an Artist
- The War of Art
- A Drawing Manual
6+ Best Toys, Arts & Crafts Gift Ideas for Designers
While a good book can do wonders for the imagination, sometimes building something or immersing yourself in something physical can do many beneficial things. While it may look out of place, Legos aren’t just for children.
- Ravensburger Jigsaw Puzzle
- MALEDEN Waterproof Notepad
- 3D String Art Kit
- Art 101 Doodle and Color Art Set
- Peel ‘n Stick Chalk Wall
- Waterproof notebook
- Legos
- Bite-Sized Worlds Coloring Book
- Master Artist Oil Paint Set Includes Wood Art
- Nintendo Labo: Variety Kit
- Dan&Darci Rock Painting Kit
- Magna-Tiles Metropolis Set
- ZMLM Scratch Paper
11+ Best Decor & Decorations for Designers
Whether they are working at home or at work, the office a graphic designer works in deserves to have some creature comforts and decor to represent the personality a designer has. Each of our gift ideas can help add some creature comforts no matter where they work.
- Bob’s Burgers Magnet Set
- Nanoleaf Canvas
- Graphic Guide to Frame Construction
- ENSO – Japanese Zen Garden Kit
- INFINITY TIME Moving Gear Wall Clock
- Bitopbi Stackable 3D Puzzles
- Magnetic Poetry Original Kit
- Brightech Sky LED Torchiere Super Bright Floor Lamp
- Mug for graphic designers
- Graphic designers tool kit
6+ Best Clothing & Apparel Gift Ideas for Designers
When you’re a graphic designer, you can’t just talk the talk, you also need to be able to walk the walk. While not every designer is the fashionable type, these gifts can certainly upgrade their wardrobe while adding a little bit of fun.
- Touch Screen Gloves
- MVMT Watch Use code ‘globetrotting15‘ for $15 off
- Graphic Designer T-Shirt
- Graphic Designer Definition T-Shirt
- Funny Food Socks
- Eat Sleep Design Repeat T-Shirt
- Graphic Designer Gift T-Shirt Hourly Rate
5+ Best Accessories for Designers
The way we think about accessories is that without these, your day would be that much harder. Each of these gift ideas fills a need from storage, to lighting, back support, and even trash removal. See, can you see yourself not having these “accessories”?
- Foot Rest for Under Desk
- Herman Miller Aeron Chair
- BetterBack Support Posture Belt
- TOWNEW T1 trash can
- LaMetric Pixel Dashboard & Speaker
5+ Best Kitchen & Dining Gifts for Designers
Everyone gets hungry, right? Well, while it might not always be easy to pull a designer away from their computer during a long session, many will not turn down a good cup of coffee or tea. And if that’s the case, give their cup of joe some style.
- Camera Lens Coffee Mug
- I’m A UX Designer Not A Magician Coffee Mug
- Starbucks K-Cup Coffee Pods
- Keurig K-Mini Plus
- GARMEE Electric Coffee Warmer
5 Best Postcard Gifts for Designers
Everyone needs to take a vacation sometimes.
While we know that’s really difficult right now with the pandemic, once you’re able to go, wouldn’t you want to share your trip with your kids, friends and colleagues?
Well, we do and that is why we think these designer postcards are a great idea for Christmas, and they can even be put onto walls for some nice decor.
- CMYK Poster
- 100 Bulk Voter Postcards
- Winnie The Pooh 100 Postcard Set
- The Art of Disney
- Flower Box: 100 Postcards
10+ Digital Christmas Gift Ideas for Graphic Designers
Want to keep it basic? Send them a gift card from one of the below sites.
Stock Photography & Vectors
Design Resources
Fonts
Christmas Gift Buying Guide for Designers
Now we know that some people will tell you that they don’t need anything this year for Christmas. For some, that may be true. While we don’t necessarily believe that, finding that person the perfect gift, even when they “say” they don’t want anything takes a little research on your part.
Look at the past
A great way to pick the perfect gift is to look at what might have happened in that person’s life in the last year. Maybe they graduated from college this year and you could frame their diploma. Or maybe they started their own business and could use a little help with a piece of tech that could put their business over the top. Events in someone’s life are a great way to find gift ideas.
Ask yourself what they might need
Even if they tell you that they don’t need anything or can’t think of anything that they might want for their birthday or Christmas, it can help to think broader when searching for a great gift. In the case of someone who runs their own business, the greatest gift they could ever receive is more time.
Unless you’re a Time Lord, that’s going to be a hard gift to give. However, there are so many devices out there that can help people run their lives more efficiently. Thinking about what to give someone on a general level can help you see more options.
Do a little light stalking
Now, we don’t mean park a van across the street from their house or anything like that. Many people have wishlists on Amazon and if you just happened to buy them something that was on that list, they will be truly surprised. You can check Facebook or other social media for clues if they’ve liked certain products or made comments about how getting a particular item would make life easier.
50+ Best Christmas Gifts for Graphic Designers
1. Fine Point Tip Permanent Markers
The best permanent markers
With fine point tips, the black permanent markers are more impressive to the users. As they provide 24 pens in one pack, you can use it for creating bold and fine lines or marks. The pens are responsible for durable results in writing, doodling, and drawing.
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2. Ultra-Slim Bluetooth Keyboard
The best wireless keyboard
As it is wireless, the keyboard is portable and a great choice due to some of its features. The keyboard is compatible with many devices like iOS, Android and Windows. It is a perfect companion for Apple iPhone, iPad, etc. Along with these, you can use the keyboard for around 20 days with a full charge.
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3. Apple iPad Air
The best iPad with great performance
With a 10.9-inch screen, the iPad has a liquid retina display with true tone and anti-reflective coating. The Apple M1 chip makes the iPad more effective in performance. Having stereo landscape speakers, the iPad also has a 12MP wide camera.
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4. Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones
The best noise-cancelling headphones
Acoustic design: Closed | Weight: 8.95 oz | Cable length: 3.94 ft | Frequency response: 4Hz to 40kHz | Drivers: 1.57-inch | Driver type: Dome-type | Sensitivity: 104.5 dB | Impedance: 47 ohm | Battery life: 30 hours | Wireless range: 30 meters (98ft) | NFC: Yes
If you’ve ever read some of our other articles, you’ll know that we love the WH-1000XM5 headphones from Sony and didn’t think anyone would be able to dethrone them. Turns out, their younger brother the 1000XM5 has done just that. While aesthetically, they don’t look all that different from the previous version, the XM5 comes with some new features including multipoint pairing, conversational awareness, and autoplay/pause using a built-in sensor make these the headphones to buy this Christmas.
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5. Wacom Cintiq 16
Best tablet with ergonomic design
Screen Size: 15.6 Inches | Pressure Sensitivity: 8192 level
With an impressive and ergonomic design, the tablet has a display of 15.6 Inches. The tablet has a pressure sensitivity level of 8,192 levels. Having the feature of lag-free tracking, the tablet also has two customizable switches that give access to shortcuts.
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6. Apple Watch Series 8
The best durable watch
Featuring a great retina display, the watch is a best pick with health innovations. Sensors and applications to measure the blood oxygen are some of the innovations in the watch will impress the users. This watch is quick to charge and it is easy to do so.. It is waterproof, dustproof, and the watch is durable enough to use for many years.
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7. Adobe Creative Cloud Subscription
The perfect addition to any designer’s toolbox
While pens and pencils can certainly help a graphic designer in the short run, where they make their bread and butter is through the use of computer programs such as Photoshop, Illustrator, or even After Effects. This is why an Adobe Creative Cloud Subscription is such a great idea. A 12-month subscription that auto-renews, there are more than 20 apps that they can use plus the subscription includes access to Adobe Fonts, Behance, and access to the Creative Cloud Libraries. With all this packed neatly together, you’ll definitely win Christmas this year.
Also see our Adobe discount guide to save 40-70% on Adobe CC.
8. DSTELIN Blank Spiral Notebook
The best spiral notebook
With 50 sheets and 100 blank pages, the notebook is worth for drawing and your artistic tasks. The pages are thick enough to avoid ink spills. Due to these features, the notebook is an ideal product for diaries, journals, etc.
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9. Extra Storage / BackUp Drives
The best choice for backup storage
Backup storage, of course, is a mind-blowing gift any time. It is a life-saving gift you can present to your designer friends whose work is their vigor. There’s no way they want to lose it; a thoughtful gift idea indeed. So, why not?
This storage software allows syncing data with other cloud services. Whether you want backups, security, file management, or just cloud storage, they meet all the requirements.
See the best External Hard Drives for Graphic Designers
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11. Logitech MX Master 3
The best mouse for a graphic designer
DPI: 4,000 | Interface: Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless | Buttons: 7 | Ergonomic: Right-handed
Customizable buttons, a design-build to fit ergonomically in their hand, a thumbwheel, and at its lowest price, the MX Master 3 from Logitech is truly an extension of a graphic designer’s arm. On top of all of the specs and features that the mouse contains, it is also my preferred mouse! If you’re looking for a great gift, pick the one that already comes with a ringing endorsement.
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12. SAMSUNG Galaxy S23Ultra
The best Android phone
With a 6.8 inch screen, this Samsung phone is best for 8k video with a high resolution. The Samsung phone is the best pick for professional uses. The phone also features multi-cam recording and other automatic effects. With a long battery life, you can work on your phone the whole day without charging.
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13. Monitor: LG 27UN850-W
The best monitor with impressive design
Screen Size: 27 inch | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 Pixels | Refresh rate: 60 Hz
With a refresh rate of 60 Hz, the monitor has a resolution of 3840 x 2160. The sRGB 99% Color makes the monitor great for designers and creators. You can also easily adjust the monitor with the height adjustable stand and pivot adjustment.
Read more about best monitors for graphic designers.
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14. AmazonBasics Backpack
Their very own Santa’s sack
Material: Canvas| Size: Fits up to a 17-inch laptop
Our Christmas list features a lot of tech and they’re gonna need something reliable to lug that around every day. Made from a lightweight canvas, the Basics Backpack from Amazon is a quality backpack with enough room for all of their stuff.
A padded back helps keep things comfortable while padded straps keep the pressure off their shoulders. While it may not be as high-tech as some other options that are out there, the combination of price and quality that only Amazon can offer makes this a must buy.
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15. Apple iMac
The best monitor with 27-inch
Screen Size: 27 inch | RAM: 8 GB | CPU: Core i7
With a 5k display, the Apple iMac is a good fit for you. With a 27-inch display, the monitor is impressive among the creators, graphic designers, etc. With the processor- Intel Core i7, the monitor provides an extensive performance. Considering the connectivities, the Apple iMac has ports for two thunderbolt 3 ports.
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16. Need Small Folding Computer Desk
The best folding desk for designers
Available in 8 colors and 5 sizes from 31.5 inches to 60 inches. The Need Small Computer desk is easy to carry and doesn’t require any assembly. Simply unfold the legs and it’s ready to use. It’s sturdy design keeps it from wobbling, which is a primary concern with any desk. Great for anyone looking for a desk that is simple, easy to use, practical, and aesthetically pleasing.
See here for the 10 Best Folding & Adjustable Computer Desks for Small Spaces or perhaps a standing desk.
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17. Shoe Dog
The best inspirational book for startups
As the best seller of The New York Times, Shoe Dog is the best pick for readers who want to learn about businesses. After reading this book, you will learn about the inside story of the company’s early days. The book will inspire you and make you confident in starting new things.
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18. Apple iPad Air 4
The best tablet for designers
Weight: 458g | Dimensions: 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1mm | OS: iPadOS 14 | Screen size: 10.9-inch | Resolution: 1640 x 2360 pixels | CPU: A14 Bionic | Storage: 64GB/256GB | microSD slot: No | Battery: Up to 10 hours | Rear camera: 12MP | Front camera: 7MP
The newest version of the iPad Air is an iPad Pro in sheep’s clothing. Although it has a cheaper price than the Pro, it certainly resembles one with its all-screen front and like the iPad Pro, it supports the second-generation Apple Pencil and the Magic Keyboard.
The internal chipset, the A14, is the same one that is in the new iPhone 12 and actually newer than what is currently in the iPad Pro. With four powerful speakers, a decent screen, and good battery life, the iPad Air is a great tablet, plus it comes in a wide range of colors. Something the iPad Pro definitely does not do.
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19. Amazon Basics Desk Chair
The best comfortable chair
Are you searching for an ideal chair for your workstation? This is a good solution for you. With an height adjustable padded seat, the basic desk chair makes the users more comfortable. You can work for long hours in your comfortable position. The strong caster wheels have a smooth rolling mobility, making it easy to move from one place to another.
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20. Microsoft Surface Laptop 5
The best Microsoft laptop for graphic designers in 2025
Although Microsoft is best known for its software, it has recently released some excellent laptops. The most recent of which is the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5, a perfect laptop for graphic designers. It not only has a beautifully thin and sleek design, but it also boasts an outstanding PixelSense touchscreen that will make your work appear its finest.
It also has a great keyboard, powerful hardware, and long battery life. It’s an excellent showcase for Windows 10, and it’s more than capable of running any graphic design application you can think of.
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21. Field Notes
The best gift for designers who like to get ideas down on paper
Many designers love to get their ideas and design sketches down on paper before working on their computer and more and more, they turn to Field Notes to jot ideas down. For those who do, there is no better gift than Field Notes notebooks for your favorite designer will love using these every day in all kinds of ways with their work. While a three-pack may not last very long, at such an affordable price, it wouldn’t be the worst idea to give more than one as a gift.
See here for more top notepads.
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22. LED Word Clock – $99
The perfect quirky gift this holiday season
We’ll just come out and say it – graphic designers can be a bit quirky and what’s better than getting them a gift that’s not only unique but can also appeal to their quirkiness. The LED Word Clock is a great gift for someone who likes to decorate their home office a little differently. While it doesn’t tell the exact time, it is pretty close but the gift isn’t about the accuracy. It’s about style and if you know a graphic designer with a unique sense of style, this will go over big.
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23. Branding: In Five and a Half Steps by Michael Johnson
The best gift for a book lover
Michael Johnson is one of the biggest names in graphic design with clients that include Virgin Atlantic, Think London and BFI and has been the recipient of many awards in his field. In Branding, Johnson takes everyday brands and breaks them down to their most basic components to help us understand why we choose one product or service over another. With more than 1,000 illustrations and case studies, anyone who is a book lover or needs help developing branding strategies to help their business should read this book.
See here for more top branding books
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24. Design & Branding Books
You can never have enough books! Here are a few of my favorite branding and logo books.
25. Pantone Formula Guide Set
The best color formula guide
As a great reference for colors and shades, Pantone Formula is the best pick to compare colors for various fields like graphic design. With a set of 2,161 spot colors, this makes it more useful for home designing, fashion, interior designing, etc. You can also use this in creating logos, branding, etc.
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26. Personalized Gifts
There’s something special about seeing your name on an item that’s gifted to you by loved one. While gifts, in general, are nice to receive, having customized things as presents require a lot more effort on the side of the giver. As a result, these gifts feel more special and intimate.
Personalized gifts also help show the recipient that they are valued and appreciated a tad more. If you don’t know where to start, you can check these ideas out: personalized gift boxes.
Get 15% off Greetabl with code ‘JUSTCREATIVE15’
The Best Christmas Gifts for Designers
Shopping for someone who works as a designer can be tough. It can be tough to know what to buy someone no matter what kind of career they have but we hope that with our list of the best Christmas gifts for designers, we’ve made you find the that process a bit easier.
Have any other great gift ideas for designers? Let us know below. Share them in the comments below!
Happy Holidays!
Cover photo by Gareth Wood
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