Illustration by Mike Joos; photo by Emiliano Granado
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. In the interest of capturing the communal spirit of this year’s Gift Guide, the contributors will be selecting a few of their favorite picks from their cohorts’ lists alongside one of their own.
In other words, hint, hint.
I considered several different approaches to my gift guide list this year, but ultimately ended up following my gut and go with a handful of selections that represent facets of my abiding passion (outside of writing about design, of course). It’s probably obvious that at least one member of Core77’s editorial team is a cycling enthusiast / dedicated bike-commuter / sometime evangelist—after all, bicycles hit a sweet spot between form and phenomenon, between function and fun.
And while I deliberately chose gift ideas for discerning folks whose idea of a canvas is a pair of triangles on wheels, I’m broadly interested in objects that are functional, durable and lend themselves to mobility. It so happens that I recently moved to a new apartment—my first time living without roommates—so planning this year’s gift guide coincided with a period of ‘needing new things’ (I actually ended up selling a bike so I could afford some new furniture). It initially felt unnaturally materialistic to me, but I came to realize that it’s worth acquiring worldly possessions if 1.) you use them regularly, if not daily, and 2.) you won’t have to buy that thing ever again.
A preponderance of cylindrical objects…
Outlier Grid Linen Towel – About as practical as it gets, really. Not only does the grid weave provide structure and surface area but the subtle geometric pattern adds a bit of Modernist flair as well. $28–120 from Outlier
AeroPress – A veritable secret to success, as far as I’m concerned. I imagine Da Vinci secretly invented an early version of this—since lost to time—and thanks to the AeroPress, everyone now has easy access to the life-affirming elixir we call coffee. $26 on Amazon
Rapha × Raeburn Wind Jacket – An easy one, perhaps, but hey, “high-viz” is meant to stand out. All black is normally the order of the day for me, but when you’re plastered in spandex anyway, you might as well go all out. $450 from Rapha
Zojirushi Tuff Mug – Another one that I own and use regularly—usually not for my own Aeropressed ambrosia but on those occasions when I get it at my local coffeeshop. Lightweight and works like a charm. $32 on Amazon
Sony QX10 / QX100 – It might seem a little absurd at first glance and I imagine it’s not quite as seamless as it could be, but I much prefer this version of the future to awkward tablet photography, amirite? $250 / $500 from Sony
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