2012 Holiday Gift Guide for Web & Design Geeks

Looking for that last minute gift for your Design or Web Geek friend? Well, for the second year in a row, here are our picks. Feel free to add your picks in the comments at the bottom!

Jason’s Picks

Buddha4 – Buddha Machine

As a music nerd, this is great. Also, the day-glow colors would drive Amber crazy.

A small portable music loop player – the Buddha Machine music device plays a variety of ambient sound loops to calm, meditate, commute, bathe, think, read, relax, and romance to as you so please… This latest version comes in 4 striking day-glo colours and equipped with brand new loops.

The first 3 editions of the machine has received multiple praise from press and celebrity patrons. David Byrne cites the Buddha Machine as an early glimpse into the future of music and The Wire magazine labelled it as “An extraordinary piece of sound art”.

Cupa Rocks Tumbler

Living in Bourbon Country gets more interesting as the region explodes. Our tastes are becoming more refined, and we’re getting snobbier about the types of bourbon we’ll drink. With that, naturally, comes fancy glassware. Get some.

Absinthe La Clandestine VSO Barrique

This is impossible to procure right now, but what’s a good gift unless you have to work for it? Barrique looks like a super-interesting absinthe experiment. From the description:

VSO Absinthe Barrique is made after the La Clandestine recipe, and aged in an oak barrel for 6 years. Claude-Alain was always interested in finding out what aging an absinthe for such a long time would do to the drink. The distiller of the Artémisia Bugnon Distillery is thrilled about the result.

What does it taste like?

Absinthe Barrique combines the flavours of a classic absinthe with all the woody and vanilla-like notes you get from a classic cognac. Experts and absintheurs who were given the opportunity to taste this special absinthe, are overwhelmed by it. Other absinthe lovers are intrigued by it, and bar and restaurant owners are determined to sell this drink ans the absinthe speciality in their establishment.

Olly Moss – Lord of the Rings Screen Print

Olly Moss is now a certified god-like designer. The past couple years has seen his fame skyrocket. And for good reason. His work is very simple, but always introduces a stunning element of nuance. This print goes on sale today and the after-market will crush your ability to purchase it for any sane price. You can’t be a geek without loving JRR Tolkien, Olly Moss, and Peter Jackson!

Treadmill Workstation

Let’s face it, we sit a lot. A whole lot. We all love our job, but some days we can feel our ass growing in our seat (at least I can). Treadmill desks are seeing growing popularity, and for tasks like email and administrative work, I don’t see why it wouldn’t be perfect to have in the office.

Emilee’s Gift Guide

Magma Sketchbook

I’ve been through the field with sketchbooks and this is by far my favorite. The quick guide in the back references everything from paper sizes to body measurements for sketching. This little buddy is my best friend.

Jessica Hische’s Day-Ruining Invoices

The candid honesty we all wish we could divulge. Thanks, Jessica, for putting into words the reasons behind designers’ and developers’ emotional instabilities.

Sevenly

The premise behind this site is awesome for two reasons. 1. It features different designer artwork on apparel that is switched out weekly. 2. Even better, each week the profits of the apparel being sold goes to a particular cause. From the Hand For Africa mandate (which you can see here) to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Sevenly is heavenly (and I am punny).

Furby Crown

This could single-handedly end international warfare.

Amber’s Picks

Rifle Paper Co. Gold Foil Pocket Notebooks

The Shape of Design

A book about design as a method to plan and create change.

Fitbit One

During the day, it tracks your steps, distance, calories burned, and stairs climbed. Come nightfall, it measures your sleep cycle, helps you learn how to sleep better, and wakes you in the morning.

Elegantissima

A book covering the 40-year career of Designer Louise Fili. Featuring case studies showing sketches, references, inspiration, and design process.

Nest Learning Thermostat

Nest learns your schedule, programs itself and can be controlled from your phone. Teach it well and Nest can lower your heating and cooling bills up to 20%.

Michelle Armas Antonia Large Print

Atlanta based artist Michell Armas has been featured on many design blogs. Some of her original abstract paintings are now being sold as prints.