Are you looking for some great Christmas gifts for a Surface Pattern Designer? Or are you a designer wondering what to ask for for Christmas?
Whether you’re looking for a professional designer or someone just starting out, there are plenty of gift options that will bring joy and inspiration to their creative endeavours. Here are some of the best Christmas gifts for surface pattern designers.
Art Suppplies
A surface pattern designer’s creative process relies heavily on having the right art supplies. Consider gifting them a set of quality paintbrushes, markers, or pens. You could also give them a beautiful sketchbook or notebook to jot down their ideas and sketches.
Some of my favourites are:
Palomino Blackwing Matte pencils – I know, I know you can easily grab any old pencil but just check these out. They scream luxury and quality and I think any artist would be happy to receive these!
Grace Art Water Colour Brush Set, don’t forget some water colour paints and watercolour paper to go with! Winsor and Newton Cotman range is great for those that are fairly new to watercolour painting, while the professional range is better for those that ave very experienced. Want to know the difference? Cotman watercolours are an accessible paint that are easy to use for beginners with fine art pigments and reduced pigment load. This makes them easier to apply than professional watercolour paints.
Pattern Design Software
If you are up for a serious Christmas gift, that will be sure to excite you or the person you are looking for, how about a subscription to some pattern design software? This could be the perfect gift.
There are many options available, including Adobe Illustrator, heck why stop there, what about the Adobe Creative Suite? Alternatively Affinity or CorelDRAW, are also widely used in the industry. Adobe’s Illustrator or Photoshop being the most popular.
Colour Swatches
One of those really useful but I don’t want to spend money on unless I have too things are colour charts. Pantone have a range available, including a useful Pantone Colour Match Card, but if you want to go all out the Pantone CMYK Guide Set would be amazing! CMYK arethe colour codes used for print and so a designer can be sure of a colour match.
Books on Design
There are many books available on surface pattern design and design in general. Consider gifting a book on colour theory, design principles, or even a biography of a famous designer. These books can provide inspiration and education for designers of all skill levels.
Some of my faves are:
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
The Complete Pattern Directory:1500 Designs from All Ages and Cultures by Elizabeth Wilhide
Show Your Work! by Austin Kleon
Find Your Artisitc Voice by Lisa Congdon
20 Ways to Draw Everything by Lisa Congdon
Digital Products and Online Courses
Online courses can be a great gift for a surface pattern designer looking to expand their skill set. There are many options available, including Skillshare, CreativeLive, and Udemy. Look for courses on topics such as digital pattern design, textile design, and colour theory.
Alternatively, a bundle of credits to somewhere like Creative Market could be great! Creative Market is a digital marketplace where designers can purchase anything from product mockups to fonts and procreate brushes.
Professional Development Opportunites
If your favourite designer is looking to take their career to the next level, consider gifting some sort of professional development opportunity. This could include a conference or trade show ticket, a subscription to a design publication, or a membership to a design association.
Customised Gifts
Finally, consider gifting a customised gift to your favourite designer. This could be anything from a personalised sketchbook or notebook to a customised mug with their favourite design on it. These types of gifts show that you put thought and effort into the gift and can be a great way to show your appreciation for their work. Etsy or Not On The High Street can be great places for these.
There are many great Christmas gifts for surface pattern designers. Whether you choose art supplies, software, books, courses, professional development opportunities, or customised gifts, your favourite designer is sure to appreciate your thoughtfulness and support. Happy shopping!