15 Awesome Christmas Gifts for Digital Illustrators and Designers

As we count down the days until Christmas, it’s time to make our lists and check them twice. Today we have an awesome gift guide full of hand picked goodies for illustrators and designers. Make sure to link this post on Twitter, Facebook and G+ – you never know – a friend or two may take it as a hint.

• Vector Basic Training: A Systematic Creative Process for Building Precision Vector Artwork (Voices That Matter) by Von Glitschka

  The perfect gift for vector illustrators of all skill levels. Von Glitschka will show you how to create elegant curves and precise anchor points for your designs and teach the very best ways to make professional illustrations using Adobe Illustrator. This book also comes with a DVD!

• Adobe Illustrator Keyboard Sticker Set

  Do you know someone who finds it hard to remember all of the shortcuts from Adobe Illustrator? They might need these.The Adobe Illustrator Keyboard Sticker Set is compatible with all keyboards (Mac, PC and Laptops).

• How to Grab the Attention of Art Directors & Editors by the Simple Use of Postcards by Max Scratchmann

  Books make great gifts, especially ones that are full of interesting pictures or useful information. This book is packed with both. Browse a great selection of attention grabbing postcards and learn the skills to make your own.

• Wacom CS100W Bamboo Stylus for iPad

  iPads are nice, but you can make them awesome with this stylus pen by Wacom. Available in six different colors, the Wacom Stylus for iPad has the comfort, elegance and sophistication you can expect from Wacom. It works great with the free Bamboo Paper App!

• The Vector Brushes Sourcebook: 300 Unique Brushes for Digital Illustration
  by Emily Portnoi

  A very helpful gift for designers and illustrators who want to learn more about how to make, apply, edit and use vector brushes. This book also includes a CD with 300 high-quality, royalty-free, and original brushes. It’s like two gifts in one!

• Illustration 101 – Streetwise Tactics for Surviving As A Freelance Illustrator
  by Max Scratchmann

  One of the most useful and thoughtful gifts you could give to someone who works in freelance illustration. This book is a fun to read manual on how to turbo charge your freelance career and have fun while you do it.

• CMYK Light Shade

  Show your appreciation for the print designer in your life with this CMYK lampshade. It can be set as either a ceiling or a lamp shade, handy!

• Drawn In: A Peek into the Inspiring Sketchbooks of 44 Fine Artists, Illustrators, Graphic Designers, and Cartoonists

  Take a peek inside the sketchbooks of artists Jessica Hische, Mike Perry, Jen Corace, Matt Leines, Jill Bliss, Camilla Engman, Anders Nilsen and many more. With large full-color images and profiles on each artist, this is a great gift for a creative daydreamer.

• Cocoon GRID-IT Organizer

  Versatile organization with endless configuration, the Grid-IT organizer is designed to hold items firmly in place and keep your cords, pens, phones, pencils, USB sticks, and everything and anything that can get stuck at the bottom of your bag in place. This is a good gift for a designer on the go.

• Limited Edition Icon Prints by Susan Kare

  The master of icon design, Susan Kare, has signed limited edition prints of her most memorable icon designs. Do you know a mac fanatic? They will love one of these!

• Layers Frame

  Spend all day staring at artboards? Why not add some to your office. The Layers Frame comes with a metal support with a picture magnet frame and looks great with both photos and illustrations.

• X-Rite i1Display 2 – Color Calibrator for LCD, CRT, and Laptop Displays
  

  This season, give the gift of high-end, accurate, on-screen color calibration for LCD, CRT and Laptop displays. It may be on the expensive end of the gift scale, but we think it’s priceless.

• Pantone Espresso Gift Set

  Designers + Coffee + Pantone = the perfect gift. OK, it may not be the perfect gift for everyone, but it’s very good for designers who run on caffeine and print checks.

• Pantone Folding Chair

  If Designers + Coffee + Pantone = the perfect gift, then an added Pantone chair must be even better. OK, honestly, a Pantone chair doesn’t make much sense but it could look good in the meeting room or on the office balcony.

• Pantone Toothbrush Set
  

  Designers + Coffee + Chair + Pantone = Great gift, + Toothbrush = The designer is working too hard and should go out and celebrate. Happy Holidays from Vectortuts!