Holiday Gifts for Creative Pros, Part 2

As promised, here is Part 2 of the 2017 CreativePro Gift Guide in all its creative glory! If you haven’t already checked out Part 1, be sure to add it to your already overflowing holiday season to-do list.

PANTONE Lights – $60
What’s a gift guide for creative folks without a little PANTONE-inspired love? These light fixtures at Wayfair look sleek and modern and come in your choice of six hues. With the exception of the cardinal red option, the collection stays on the safe side with muted colors ranging from blue and pewter to black and green. Named for the colors in the Fashion/Interior Design line, pair these up with a fun Edison-style bulb to raise your interior decorating to hip new heights.

Lumio Light – from $150
Sometimes things are just adorable and don’t have to be super practical…and that’s okay! That’s how I feel about the Lumio light. On the surface this little cutie looks like a book or journal (the mini is especially adorable). But open it and fold the covers together and the accordion “pages” inside glow with a soft light. The larger sizes come with accessories to hang or stand up the light and the mini size doubles as a battery pack for your phone.

1 to 100 Pixels Poster – $20
For pixel pushers everywhere, may I present the 1 to 100 Pixels poster. Each of the 100 squares on the black and white print represents a number, depicted by the number of pixels used to create each image. The images start out simply, as you might expect, and grow to more involved. Mostly comprised of cross-stitch like patterns, an alien, Bigfoot (and is that Cthulhu?) slip in a surprise appearance in the middle of the count. The 18″ x 24″ poster is printed on 100lb. matte and is part of the artist’s 1 to 100 series of prints.

Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 – $100 list
The built-in webcam on your laptop or display is great for the occasional business meeting, but if someone you know needs a more robust solution, check out the Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920. Whether for vlogging or conducting business meetings, it fills the void between trying to use a smartphone and committing to a DSLR camera. The C920 integrates with video conferencing software, sports a built-in mic, can be mounted on a tripod, and even offers 1080p resolution within some apps.

CreativeLive App – Free
The CreativeLive app for iOS lets you browse and view the entire CreativeLive library of classes from your iPhone, iPad, and AppleTV. The app gives you the option of downloading any class you own and gives you access to one free lesson every day in addition. The in-app purchase option allows you to buy a course right from within the app, which is a great way to spend those iTunes gift cards, all while burning new neural pathways. Full disclosure: I’m an instructor for CreativeLive, but I am also a voracious consumer of classes and love using the app!

Wood Charging Station – $26
Have multiple items that all need charging at once laying all around? There’s a stand for that! The M. Way charging stand is crafted from bamboo and features multiple slots for an array of devices. The magnetic Apple Watch charging stand is removable, making room for cables or other small device. The wooden organizer has 3 USB 3.0 charging ports and the rear slots can be used for cable management.

T-Shirts for the Graphic Designer – from $18
There’s an unwritten rule that creative folks can never have too many witty, artistic, or ironic t-shirts. Here are a couple I found humorous…mostly because they poke fun at how serious we designers take things sometimes.
Graphic Artist Label
World’s Best Graphic Designer
How to Piss Off Your Designer Friends
Friends Don’t Let Friends

Secret Lives of Color – $20
Secret Lives of Color gives a little historic background to the colors profiled in this 320-page book. Author Kassia St. Clair discusses how color and history are intertwined and often define each other’s stories. The introduction alone hooked me with the most logical explanation of additive and subtractive color I’ve ever read. Reviewed as a “mix of science, humor, and art history,” the story of Van Gogh and his chrome yellow just might bring a little tear to your eyes.

Nix Mini Color Sensor – $99
The Nix Mini Color Sensor is a small device to let you sample colors in the real world and match them to a standard color library. You can then save and share your swatches. Whether you’re a designer, painter, fine artist, or just wanting to match a room’s paint color to your favorite wildflowers, this little wonder puts that power in your pocket. And on your smartphone, with apps for iPhone and Android.

BauBax Tech Windbreaker – from $110
The BauBax Tech Windbreaker—and bomber, blazer, and hoodie—is chock full of tech and travel gadgets, with room for anything that’s not already included. Even the most veteran road warrior will find comfort in the integrated quick-fill neck pillow, fingerless gloves, and eye mask. And for those of us who can’t leave home without our tech, the BauBax doesn’t disappoint with its interior earbud channel, roomy tablet pocket, and a stylus doing double-duty as a zipper pull. According to reviews, all those included gadgets make ordering the next size up your safest option.

Google Daydream View VR – $99
Google’s Daydream View brings virtual reality home for under $100. If there’s a game-player, movie watcher, or history buff on your list, this might be the upgrade they’ll love. Use the lightweight VR device with any Pixel or other compatible phone (sorry iPhone users…not this time!) and be transported. Use in conjunction with your Google Chromecast device to stream the view to a TV so everyone can watch you game.

Real World Advice Mug – $19
I’m a huge fan of the art of procrastinating, but having a mug to remind me to keep it to a minimum in stealthy black-on-black is f%$*@g cool. Pardon my français, but sometimes you just need a reminder to focus and get your work done. And if you like your mug advice to come laced with a bit more profanity, try this one. (Smiley added to protect the pure minds of innocent designers)

Must-See Films Poster – $35
I would go broke if I bought every PopChartLab poster that I liked…this one might have to go on my list, though. The 100 Essential Films Poster features 100 must-see films presented as tiny hand-drawn posters. The twist is that you can scratch off the silver foil of the flicks you’ve seen to reveal more of the story. The prints—which offer cinematic masterpieces both old and relatively recent—are 18″ x 24″ and come with the option of a choice of frames.

Apple Watch Series 3 – from $329
If you don’t know what the Apple Watch is, I’m pleased to be the first to welcome you out from under your rock. It’s understandable if you haven’t checked out the newest Apple Watch Series 3, though they’re pretty compelling. This new iteration comes with 16GB storage, GPS, and is water resistant. The biggest improvement, though, is that you no longer need to have your iPhone on you to use it (though you’ll still need to pair it with one). Now you can text and call right from your watch—say while out jogging—without needing to bring that extra device with you. And while the new Apple Watch run apps faster, it can’t promise to help you do the same. Yet.

Premium InDesign Secrets Membership – $59 annually
I’m sure you’re well aware of our sister site indesignsecrets.com (at least I hope you are). If not, go check it out as soon as you’re done here! While there is a TON of free stuff every InDesign lover is welcome to feast on, be sure to order dessert: a Premium Membership to InDesign Secrets. This added level opens up a members-only forum and gives you access to monthly templates as well as swipe files for some of the articles. But the best perk—in my little ol’ opinion—is the 12 issues of InDesign Magazine delivered to your inbox during the year. Your Premium InDesign Secrets Membership also allows you access to all the back issues and templates. Just like dessert, it’s hard to say no to this sweet offering.

Happy shopping, happy designing, and happy holidays to you lovable lot of creative pros!

Erica Gamet has been involved in the graphics industry for over 35 years. She is a speaker, writer, trainer, and content creator focusing on Adobe InDesign, Apple Keynote, and varied production topics. She is a regular presenter at CreativePro Week, regular contributor to CreativePro Magazine, and has spoken at Canada’s ebookcraft, Adobe MAX, and Making Design in Oslo, Norway. Find Erica online at the CreativePro YouTube channel, CreativeLive.com and through her own YouTube channel. When she isn’t at her computer she’s probably daydreaming about travel or living in a Nordic noir landscape.

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