2025 Holiday Gift Guide for Designers

Whether they are a budding junior graphic designer, typography enthusiast, industrial design student, established art director or emerging illustrator, we’ve got something in mind for them. This gift guide covers the vast world of design, from local designers to international titles and authors. 

Unboxed: Japan

Counter Print, 2025

In Japan, packaging is more than just a container – it is an art form, a cultural expression and a philosophy of care. Rooted in centuries of tradition yet constantly evolving, Japanese packaging design blends aesthetics, functionality and deep respect for nature. From the delicate folds of furoshiki wrapping to the thoughtful innovations that enhance everyday life, each design tells a story of craftsmanship and mindfulness.

Unboxed: Japan explores the rich history, cultural symbolism and modern ingenuity of Japanese packaging. Through the lens of sustainability, user experience and design philosophy, this book unveils how Japan’s approach to packaging offers profound lessons for the world. Whether you are a designer, a cultural enthusiast or simply curious about the beauty in the everyday, this journey into Japanese packaging will inspire you to see the art in the smallest details.

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Design and Disability: 10 Tales Of Accessible Design

V & A Publishing, 2025

This visually rich book celebrates design ingenuity, acknowledging the significant contributions of disabled individuals and communities to design and making the point that, simply put, inclusive design is better for all. Covering 10 projects across fields including fashion, community practices, social media, graphic design, gaming and architecture, Design and Disability delves into the motivations and methods of the creators. It poses questions that are central to their design, such as how to balance diverse access needs, what does radical visibility mean and what makes a community. Design and Disability offers a manifesto for living now and into the future. It addresses an urgent gap in the literature and is led by disabled communities, emphasizing the importance of recognizing disabled individuals as experts in their own experiences.

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Letters from the North Pole

Harry N. Abrams, 2024

Five children from around the globe write to Santa with their Christmas wishes and are thrilled when he writes back! Each letter reveals fascinating secrets about the North Pole, from how reindeer sleep standing up to Santa’s favourite snacks on Christmas Eve. As the children eagerly await their gifts, readers are taken on a nostalgic journey filled with festive cheer and heartwarming surprises.

Letters from the North Pole is a timeless tale that captures the wonder and joy of Christmas, making it a must-have for families and young readers.

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The World’s Best Typography, Typography 46 

Slanted Publishing, 2025

The World’s Best Typography, Typography 46 brings together the work of the winners of the latest TDC competition for typographic excellence from around the globe in communication design, lettering and typeface design. For the past seventy years, the Type Directors Club has encouraged the design community to achieve excellence in typography through annual competitions. This high-quality volume showcases the award-winning selection while redefining the boundaries of visual communication.

Curated by the Type Directors Club, this year’s selection features outstanding projects from 33 countries—including Germany, Japan, Georgia, Israel, New Zealand, Peru, Thailand, Ukraine, the United States and many more. The result is a compelling display of creativity and global diversity in contemporary typography.

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Faber Castell Hexo Matte Fountain Pen

Hexo is the new tool that lets ideas grow. A special companion, as individual as you are: with its hexagonal shape and feel, it brings entirely new perspectives into creative writing, sketching and drafting. A combination of a matte body, a stainless steel black nib and a hexagonal shaft made of anodized aluminum for an amazing feeling.

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Karel Martens: Unbound

Roma Publications, 2025

Unbound accompanies Karel Martens’ first solo exhibition at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, bringing together a wide-ranging body of work Karel made and collected over the entire span of his decades-long career. Containing works from the show, collaged, overprinted and juxtaposed with elements found around his studio, the book balances between being an artist book and a catalog.

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Ally Ear Jackets and Abacus Versatile Necklace by Pursuits

Locally designed and made, Pursuits is known for their bold and dramatic jewellery. Each collection has a signature sleekness and is created with versatility in mind. Each design is a unique take on geometry and is finished with high quality plating. Their jewellery exudes elegance with experimentation, making them a perfect accessory to enhance your sophisticated style. 

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Secrid

Secrid creates pocket-sized essentials, blending fashion and product design. Offerings include minimal wallets with a patented mechanism for quick card access and RFID protection. Products are ethically made in Holland using environmentally conscious leather and built to last.

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OBJ STUDIO

OBJ STUDIO creates sustainably 3D-printed home decor, including vases, planters, trays and lighting made from plant-based PLA. Designed and made in Toronto, each piece is built layer by layer with a focus on form, balance and daily use.