Are you a trying to find the ideal gift for a graphic designer you know? Or are you a graphic designer yourself, looking to splash out on a personal treat? Either, given the complexity and scope of graphic design as a craft, choosing the right present can be tricky. One straightforward gift would be coupon codes that will allow your graphic designer friend to make a purchase that suits them through Amazon Prime or a similar outlet. That way, the recipient will be spoilt for choice, as here are just six of the gifts they can indulge in:
Adobe Creative Cloud
The most obvious gift for the graphic designer in your life would be a subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud, which comprises a range of industry standard apps. Amongst other things these include Illustrator and Photoshop, the two tools that will do the most to make life easier for any graphic designer. Illustrator, in particular, is regarded as a true powerhouse of vector art, one of the most important areas in modern digital graphic design. So, if you are looking for a present that a designer will appreciate, an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription will be a good starting point — the only drawback is that the recipient may already have one.
Serif DrawPlus
The Adobe apps may be the industry standard, but they are far from the only design apps on the market. There are many alternatives out there, and a large number of graphic designers will swear by them. One such app is Serif DrawPlus, a program that includes a range of vector art tools, including animation capabilities. It is an affordable alternative to Adobe Illustrator, but does not sacrifice functionality, and is particularly suited to those who are involved with web design.
The Little Know-it-All
Books on graphic design make good presents, and The Little Know-it-All (published by Gestalten) is an extremely useful all-round title. The book is divided into sections that cover design, typography and digital media, along with more esoteric eras such as the legal and marketing aspects of design. Between them, the sections break down the craft of design into a series of easy-to-follow rules touching on matters such as colour theory and printing methods. All in all, a good way to spend your coupon codes at Amazon.
Work for Money, Design for Love
Another book that would make a valued gift for a graphic designer is David Airey’s Work for Money, Design for Love. As its title suggests, this book emphasises the business side of graphic design rather than the craft, and gives advice to designers on maximising the commercial potential of their work without sacrificing the aspects that they find enjoyable. Designed to be as accessible as possible, the book will be particularly useful for a graphic designer who is just starting their career.
Wacom Bamboo Pen Tablet
All the software and reference books in the world will be of little use to a designer if they have no physical tools at their disposal. If the graphic designer in your life is in need of some new hardware, then perhaps you should consider buying them a Wacom Bamboo Pen Tablet. This is an extremely useful piece of equipment that is designed to simulate the feel and texture of a pen and canvas as much as possible, allowing the user to feel as though they are sketching on paper while they draw onto their screen.
Datorcolor SpyderX Elite
One issue that any serious designer will have to take into account is whether their monitor is showing their work properly. This is where the Datorcolor SpyderX Elite comes in: this is a monitor calibration tool that can be used to fine-tune your screen, adjusting light and making the onscreen colour much more precise. Although it is intended primarily for photographers, it will also be an extremely useful part of a graphic designer’s toolset.
