Hasta La Ideas

The Core77 Ultimate Gift Guide is one of the more popular pieces of content that we put together every year, both for our readers and those of us who have the privilege—and eye—for making the selections.

Here, contributor Sam Dunne elaborates on some of his selections for this year’s Gift Guide.

Like moths to a flame, droves of wide-eyed design graduates are coaxed away from the provinces every year, fatally attracted by the bright lights and endless Sharpie marker supply of big city design studios.

Should someone on your (left to the last minute) Christmas gift list be going through this crucial right of passage into urban professionalism, get them welling up with gratitude this festive season with some essential survival tools for the trials and tribulations of working life in the concrete jungle.

For starters, consider getting their photography kit up to scratch with some handy gadgets. The lower budget shopper might try a Slyphone to equip their design grad loved one with espionage grade observational research skills. Those feeling a little more generous could consider one of Sony’s revolutionary smartphone-attachable lens, for picture perfect photography without the weight or expense of an SLR.

You can be sure your poor ambitious friend will be doing their fair share of travelling over the coming year. A lot less glamourous than it sounds, your little nomad will need sleep and something to while away many an airborne hour. Gift them the new Ostrich Pillow Light for some handy head comfort or a 100 Questions kit to break the silence when going long haul with colleagues.

The new design YoPros stationery appreciation levels will also no doubt be reaching record levels in a bid to maintain some sanity during late nights in the studio. Give them some unexpected stapling satisfaction with Kokuyo Harinacs stapleless stapler or perhaps a chance to reflect on their Post-It addiction with the Giving Tree.

See the full 2013 Gift Guide for more ideas →

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