Holiday Gift Guide 2023

By:

on 12/1/2023

Welcome to our lucky 13th annual Holiday Gift Guide!

Each year, our team puts together our top, hand-picked gifts to help you explore new ideas for everyone on your holiday list. Our gift ideas include everything from experiences to tangible, practical, (sometimes) affordable, and sentimental gifts.

Happy holiday season to you and yours!

- The VIA Team

Christal Glovers's Picks:

NightLightLife

Runner? Live somewhere where the sun disappears after 4pm? This is for you.

LIGHT IT UP

Really Expensive Cookies

These are delicious and will ensure you feel regret once you look at your bank account the next day.

NOM NOM NOM

The Second Body

"This should be required reading for all humans." Every living thing has two bodies. To be an animal is to be in possession of a physical body, a body which can eat, drink and sleep; it is also to be embedded in a worldwide network of ecosystems. When every human body has an uncanny global presence, how do we live with ourselves?

TAKE XAL'S ADVICE

Do You Compute?

Let's look at when tech was cool and dream about what could have been. Hardcover, 240 pages 8 x 10 in. 20.32 x 25.4 cm

REMINISCE

Nick Stewart's Picks:

Anker Nano Power Bank

A power bank without cables, the Anker Nano Power Bank makes it super easy to charge your phone while on the go.

POWER ON

The Oldest Sport

Written by my friend Evan Meyers, this is a short book following a high school student's journey into sports.

READ A BOOK

iPhone Game Pad

Plug your phone in and suddenly you have an Xbox-like controller to play games like Grand Theft Auto on your iPhone.

GAME ON

Tinkerwell

Tinkerwell is a game changer for Laravel debugging and quick code writing - I can't imagine not having this tool and working with Laravel.

TINKER

Scott Schroeder's Picks:

TokyoTreat Snack Box

Boxes of delicious treats from Japan delivered right to your door. Mmm mmm. So good.

GET SNACKS

Blackwing Pencils

Do you love well-made, overpriced pencils as much as I do? Then ya' gotta' get some led from Blackwing. The perfect analog gift to start charting your digital transformation.

GET ANALOG

Super7 Collectibles

Find the perfect something for the adult who just refuses to let go of childish things.

DECORATE YOUR DESK

Domestika Courses

Fun, easy, affordable art classes for someone who thinks they can't but totally can.

LEARN

Pam Wishbow Art Gifts

Looking for something for your pagan friends during the holiest time of the year?

BLASPHEME

Jason Clark's Picks:

ChatGPT Plus Subscription

Inarguably the most significant technology advancement in a decade. The PLUS Subscription adds premiere and exceedingly useful features. Get this for a young person so they can help build the future.

CREATE THE FUTURE

Daniel Martin Diaz Artwork

I love DMD's mystical and simple pencil-style approach. His art makes me dream of other dimensions of reality.

EXPLORE

Ben Wilson's Picks:

Asian-Style Vegetable Cleaver

Change the life of the chef in your life! A rectangular-bladed knife just like this one has become my go-to in the kitchen, as my fine-edged, pointed 8" chefs knife looks on sad and unused. Perfect for meat or veg, it's quicker and safer chopping, heavier weighted, and easier to move ingredients with! There are many different options available on Amazon to suit your hand and preferences.

CHOP CHOP

La Corsa

Since F1 fever has taken hold in the US, this simple and super-stylish tabletop racing strategy game is the perfect fit for the person in your life with a "Drive to Survive". In addition, the box is super-slim: a perfect fit for a stocking.

LET'S RACE

Monoprice

If you've got someone on your list who wants a big-ticket electronic item, but it's a bit out of your price range - I suggest looking at Monoprice. It's become my go-to for things like stereo electronics, microphones, wireless earbuds - even an 88-key semi-weighted piano keyboard! The quality is great, and the prices are low because they don't spend a lot on marketing or design.

BARGAINS! BARGAINS!

Chelsea Neal's Picks:

Banana-Saving Hats

Do these work? I have no idea. But worst-case scenario your bananas are wearing a viking hat.

KEEP THOSE BANANAS FRESH!

Plant Life Support Self-Waterer

The description says it's "for vacations" but we all know someone who belongs on a true crime podcast for their plant carnage, and could use a little help (it's me, hi).

SUPPORT LIFE

Center for Women and Families

The Center accepts donations of gift cards for women or toys for the kiddos who are doing incredibly brave and difficult things this season.

'TIS THE SEASON

La Manso Mystery Box

All the mystery and excitement of the rings that you got from the quarter machine in the 90s, priced at inflation.

GET THAT JEWELRY!

Keena McCarthy's Picks:

RTIC Backpack Cooler

Family events, summer pool parties, travel...I don't go anywhere without my RTIC backpack cooler. Lightweight, lots of compartments. Love it!

LET'S PARTY

Large Travel Backpack

I did A LOT of traveling this past year and this travel backpack was a game changer in the amount of clothes I could back in a small space. I recommend the XL for men and women. Everyone in my family has one!

ADVENTURE TIME!

Cords, Bricks, and Chargers

Cords, bricks and chargers oh my! We can't get enough around the house. If you have kids young and old, they always seem to disappear.

CHARGE THOSE GADGETS!

Nick Wunderlin's Picks:

Footy Bucket Hats

Send in an old jersey and have it remade into a bucket hat, or select from pre-made options.

PLAY BALL!

Please & Thank You Cookie Subscription

Who doesn't want cookies delivered directly to them each month?

NOM NOM NOM

Louisville Landmark Ornament

Show off your 502 pride and holiday spirit with a local festive ornament.

LOOK WHAT WE CAN DO, LOUISVILLE

Kentucky Humane Society Donation

All of my pets have been adopted through the Kentucky Humane Society. A one-time or monthly donation ensures second chances are given to Kentucky’s dogs, cats, and horses.

DONATE

Morgan Plappert's Picks

Egg Chair

Does it really need reasoning? Fine. We had one in the old office and this was my favorite place to work. so 1. Nostalgia 2. Function - It's cozy, it's quiet, it's private and it really does feel like a little escape working in this thing + it's noise filtering/cancelling so it helps with focus. 3. C'mon ... It's an EGG CHAIR.

HAVE A SEAT!

Kernel Sifting Popcorn Bowl

We eat popcorn just about every night in my house. We use the same, scratched up, dinky, big ole plastic bowls that everyone knows all too well. We also have a toddler so kernels wind up all over the floor we ALSO have a 10 month old crawler, so kernels on the floor become a safety hazard. Solution: Beautiful, glazed stoneware bowls that have a colander-inspired bottom, filtering out all the kernels, trapping them at the bottom in a secret compartment for easy disposal. GENIUS. And good looking.

MOVIE NIGHT!

Figma Keyboard Stickers with App Shortcuts

For this last 1, I'm going to get nerdy on you. An industry-related stocking stuffer. I'm in Figma 90% of my work day, so by now, I'm pretty well acquainted with the ins and outs. BUT these are still pretty fun. And I could see them actually being super helpful for anyone trying to pick up Figma and flatten the learning curve.

FLATTEN THE CURVE

Amanda Krieger's Picks

Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Premium Noise Canceling Headphones

The sound quality is great, and they are a wonderful investment. I've had mine for 9 years and they are indestructible, no matter where I go or what bag I toss them into.

LISTEN UP!

Really nice mechanical switches

(I know this is niche; welcome to the niche corner)

I've gotten into building keyboards, and while it seems fussy and over the top...well, it is. I won't lie. But I also type all day, so it's important to me that that feels and sounds nice. Everyone has a different opinion, I personally like "creamy keyboards", like this (ft the switches): https://youtu.be/3Agcgbo7Bjk

SWITCH IT UP

Rancho Gordo Bean Club

I know that "you'll get dried beans once a quarter" is a tough pitch. But Bean Club is a state of mind. Beans are a criminally underrated food, and I think it has to do with how homogeneously they're grown and canned. Rancho Gordo send heirloom beans that are so rich and flavorful, and when you have dried beans in your pantry, you really feel like you could make it through the harshest winters with warm and hearty meals.

THE MAGICAL FRUIT

Past VIA Studio Gift Guides

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VIA STUDIO SUPER BOWL 2021 COMMERCIALS SLACK THREAD

By:Nick Wunderlin on 2/8/2021

Welcome to VIA Studio’s Super Bowl 2021 Commercials Slack Thread. The following transcripts come from our company Slack channel. The transcript below has been lightly edited.