Welcome to our 14th Annual Holiday Gift Guide for Web & Design Geeks!

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

I can almost hear you saying, "Scott, we have AI now. We don't need markers." But I must respectfully disagree. Do yourself a favor. Rediscover the kid who loves to color.

Coloured Graphic Pen Collection: Set of 16

Brush & Fineline Pens

I love this sketchbook. The size is just perfect, fitting snugly between me and my laptop on my desk. The paper quality is exceptional, and the subtle dot pattern makes it ideal for sketching designs and storyboarding. It even comes with a beautiful slipcase that looks great when archived on a shelf. Go get you one!

The Perfect Sketchbook

Natalie Andrewson's  plays with lines, colors, and subjects that speak to my soul. Whimsical, affordable and — because they're printed on a Riso machine — each is one-of-a-kind. Your friends will think you’re so cool.

Riso Print Art

This about sums up my feelings on exactly when the internet took a wrong turn. Also, all this website's merchandise is hysterical.

from DaShareZone

Bring Back RSS Readers and Blogs

I have this irrational fear that if I pour my fizzy water out of a can that it will lose it's fizziness, but I also have an irrational fear that I'll cut my lip open on an aluminum can. This lil guy solves both problems. And your beer tastes less like aluminum. 

The Draft Top Lift – Topless Can Opener

Ridiculous? Useful? You Decide!

If you liked The Overstory, this book is its equal at worst. Powers' ability to tell a sprawling story and link it both to our central humanity, the earth, and technology is captivating. Possibly my favorite book of 2024 so far.

"Four lives are drawn together in a sweeping, panoramic new novel from Richard Powers, showcasing the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Overstory at the height of his skills. Twelve-year-old Evie Beaulieu sinks to the bottom of a swimming pool in Montreal strapped to one of the world’s first aqualungs. Ina Aroita grows up on naval bases across the Pacific with art as her only home. Two polar opposites at an elite Chicago high school bond over a three-thousand-year-old board game; Rafi Young will get lost in literature, while Todd Keane’s work will lead to a startling AI breakthrough."

Playground by Richard Powers on Goodreads

Playground by Richard Powers

I've always wanted a Theremin, but the pro options always made one seem too expensive for an instrument that I would almost certainly not include in my music recordings. Enter the STYLOPHONE THEREMIN! A fun little box that's ridiculous and engaging at the same time. Recreate all your haunted house soundtracks for a little over $100!

Note: Currently sold out, but join their waiting list if you want one. Srsly fun!

A fun sound toy for all ages!

Stylophone Theremin

I must represent the great PNW. And who doesn't need soap? My friend Priscilla left a life of TV production behind and moved to Whidbey Island where they grow their own herbs and flowers and practice natural dying techniques. They have gift boxes of soaps, bath fizzes, and oils if you really want to impress your mom. 

WATO Soap

Make troubleshooting feel like a quest! A friend got me my first video game record a few years back and I laughed because who needs physical video game music? Me. I do. It sounds so cool and looks so rad spinning and I get to say things like, "actually, the plural of vinyl is vinyl"

Proof That You're Cool: Video Game Vinyl

Revered as a lyricist when he was among the living, MF DOOM has recently ascended to "iconic" status with new hip hop fans after his untimely passing in 2020.

His fascination with superheroes and food lends itself to amazing tributes like this 20th Anniversary pressing of his legendary 2004 album "MM..FOOD" and a Super7 produced cereal bowl and action figure. (https://gasdrawls.com/products/mm-food-super7-figure-cereal-bowl)

If you've got a hip hop head among your friends and family, this limited edition set is what you need.

"Watch cartoons 'til noon and then I'd switch to Ralph McDaniels
I was, makin up a miracle flow, over a cereal bowl
And a pause beat from my stereo"

20th Anniversary Edition: Deluxe Vinyl + 7 Inch

 Album + Action Figure, Cereal Bowl

MF DOOM "MM..FOOD" 20th Anniversary

John Derian is a designer, collector and curator of old things. In 2016 he published an incredibly inspiring and just a little creepy picture book called The John Derian Picture Book. If "inspiring and just a little creepy" is your aesthetic, then this is your new favorite book. This is my wife's whole being - so she's bought one to flip through, and the other to cut up and use as fodder for her incredible gallery wall compositions. We now buy it for all of our spooky slash crafty friends. (But wait there's more! On October 15th, he released Book II.)

The John Derian Picture Books

I like to know what makes things tick. I also love a good timepiece. Best of both worlds. This company sends you a kit packed with high quality watch components and instructions to build your own watch.

Watchmaking Kit: Stealth Skeleton Tool Watch

DIY Watch Making Kit

... But sometimes I'm lazy. For those days, Swatch me. I'm always checking out their new designs. Fun looks, great quality and pretty affordable. I have a couple, but I'll take another, please & thanks. 

... But sometimes I'm lazy.

Swatch

Fun story. In high school, I won a printmaking scholarship and got to show my work at the St. James Art Fair. I met Mary Lou Hess when she came over to my booth and talked to me for a long time about printmaking, her journey, my work and life. She wound up giving me a business card and a print of hers and we stayed in touch for a while. I'd love to think that when I'm older, this is something I would do. The mentorship for me as a young artist meant a lot. Would love to hang up another piece of hers.

Mary Lou Hess Print

Can you buy this somewhere? Not sure ... But nothing like a good, homemade gift, right? I saw this online and thought it was kind of silly and funny but also ... genius? I'm a big fan of form meeting function in the middle, and this is a perfect example. My dog slops water EVERYWHERE when he drinks. Why not do what I often forget to do - Water the plants? 

Dog Bowl / Planter

I can relate to the urge to disappear into a crowd, and respect Waldo's boundaries on that one. But trying to spot our great dane amidst a sea of pups at the PAW-fee Shop, PUP-up Carnival, and Museum of ARF? I can't ask for anything cuter.

Where Did My Dog Go Custom Search & Find

*Shriek!* Brace yourself, there's been...a murder. And it's up to you to solve the crime, piece by piece. Elegance meets a touch of the macabre in these mysterious and absorbing puzzles. Begin by reading the story of the incident. Then, guided by the narrative rather than a visual reference, complete the jigsaw. The finished image provides all the clues you need to decipher whodunit. Choose your adventure:

If I can't puzzle with Hercule Poirot over crème de menthe down the Nile, then I'll accept this as the next best thing.

Murder Mystery Jigsaw Puzzle

If you're ready for your daily dose of 'news that makes me want to throw things', inmates are charged 5 cents per minute to read ebooks in prison, including texts that are public domain and free. The Appalachian Prison Book Project is providing an alternative by donating requested paperback books to inmates throughout Appalachia - and the holidays are a perfect time to give the gift of reading. Check out their requested books, including a wishlist from our local indie bookstore, Carmichael's. 

Appalachian Prison Book Project

Puzzling with cats is a risky endeavor, especially when you need to take a break. This Puzzle board provide a great surface for your puzzle and can keep it safe when you need to step away!

Portable Jigsaw Puzzle Board with Four Sorting Trays

...for Up to 1000 Pieces

Scrabble is mine and my wife's favorite game to play together. Upgrade you Scrabble experience with this custom board from L.L. Bean. Includes a raised grid and plastic playing surface keeps tiles in place, a sand timer to keep the game moving, and can be personalized to make it a treasured keepsake!

L.L.Bean Deluxe Scrabble

The Stormlight Archive is a high fantasy novel series written by author Brandon Sanderson. The first four books have been published and the fifth book, "Wind and Truth," will be released on December 6, 2024. This epic series is perfect for any fantasy/sci-fi fan in your life!

The Stormlight Archive Series

This has completely replaced MAMP as my quick and dirty local development tool - it's super fast, can run multiple PHP versions side by side, and feels extremely lightweight. I really like it for a quick spin of a LAMP site.

Indigo Stack

Next in the Ninja line of products you want but don't actually need, the Ninja Slushi let's you make slushis, milkshakes, and more at home. While you can make your own concoctions (like your own Wendy's Frosty), you can also just pour Mountain Dew in and 30 minutes later get a slushi.

Ninja Slushi

After Mint was shuttered, I bounced from app to app until I found Monarch. It does a great job at projecting spending, pulling the different accounts in, and automatic budgeting based on prior spending.

Monarch Money

There are a million different variations and brands of these general concept, but I really like this cheap one off of Amazon. It holds an AirTag and 7 cards, plus an external spot for one or two cards. The AirTag has saved me a few times, like leaving my wallet behind at Kroger.

Pop Up Wallet with AirTag Holder

Great stocking stuffer for your book lovers! Makes reading in the dark much easier :) Built in USB makes it easy to charge (no additional cords to keep track of).

Rechargeable Book Light

I've spent years eliminating toxins from my home, but there's someting peaceful about a burning candle. Fate Naturals offers a non-toxic fragrance solutions for the home. The seasonal bundles are the best!

Fate Naturals

Lots of power in a compact portable Bluetooth speaker. Easy to pack up and carry around for those outdoor activities.

JBL Flip 6

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2024 Holiday Gift Guide for Web & Design Geeks

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

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

NightLightLife

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

Really Expensive Cookies

"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?

The Second Body

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

Do You Compute?

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

Anker Nano Power Bank

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

The Oldest Sport

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

iPhone Game Pad

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

Tinkerwell

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

TokyoTreat Snack Box

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.

Blackwing Pencils

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

Super7 Collectibles

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

Domestika Courses

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

Pam Wishbow Art Gifts

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.

ChatGPT Plus Subscription

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

Daniel Martin Diaz Artwork

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.

Asian-Style Vegetable Cleaver

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.

La Corsa

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. 

Monoprice

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

Banana-Saving Hats

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).

Plant Life Support Self-Waterer

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

Center for Women and Families

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

La Manso Mystery Box

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

RTIC Backpack Cooler

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!

Large Travel Backpack

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.

Cords, Bricks, and Chargers

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

Footy Bucket Hats

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

Please & Thank You Cookie Subscription

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

Louisville Landmark Ornament

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.

Kentucky Humane Society Donation

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.

Egg Chair

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. 

Kernel Sifting Popcorn Bowl

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. 

Figma Keyboard Stickers with App Shortcuts

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.

Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Premium Noise Canceling Headphones

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

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

Really nice mechanical switches

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. 

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2024 Holiday Gift Guide for Web & Design Geeks

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