10 Great Gifts for the Art + Design Lover

Whether you have a valentine or not, it's never too soon to start planning for that next special occasion when you'll need to pick out the perfect gift.  If you have a friend who has a passion for art and design, what exactly do you get him or her? Today, we've picked out ten items that are almost guaranteed to be a sure fire hit. From incredible coffee table books to the newest tech toy, these are gifts you'll love so much, you might even end up buying one for yourself!

1. Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty

Published to coincide with the exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty is a must-have coffee table book that goes well beyond fashion. It examines the full breadth of the designer's career, showing us how McQueen became one of the most influential and imaginative designers of our generation. Inside the 240-page book, you'll find an interview with Sarah Burton, creative director of the house of Alexander McQueen, quotes from the late designer himself and provocative photography by world-renowned photographer Sølve Sundsbø. If all that's not convincing enough, in their recent gift guide, The Wall Street Journal named it one of the Best Art Books.

2. Lytro Camera

This small and beautifully designed camera is revolutionary because, unlike conventional cameras, the Lytro captures an entire light field. What does that mean exactly? You can focus and re-focus on the picture after you've taken it. Though the technology isn't new, and the very first light fields were captured at Stanford University over 15 years ago, it is the first time this type of camera is available to the mass public. Look to the Lytro if your friend is interested in taking more than just a pretty picture.

3. Wacom Inkling Digital Sketch Pen

The Wacom Inkling Digital Sketch Pen was designed for artists and practically anyone else who's into creative brainstorming. The ballpoint pen uses Wacom pressure-sensing technology to detect how hard the pen is being pressed onto the paper, which will show in the digital version of the drawing. You can use any sheet of paper to draw on, and then, once the digital drawing is in the computer, you can further refine your sketch. Coolest part? You can export your work directly into Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator as vectors.

4. Aurora Display Case

The Aurora Display Case shows off the beauty of colored pencils right on your wall. The clear, acrylic cases organize and hold pencils while saving space and creating a rainbow effect. Stack five cases, one of top of another, and you'll be able to hold 500 pencils in a wide range of colors. This gift is perfect for the aspiring artists or for those who have bare white walls!

5. The Holstee Manifesto

You don't have to be an artist to love all the words on the Holstee Manifesto. A poster created by two brothers back in May 2009, it's full of wise advice that quite possibly anyone could appreciate. Viewed over 50 million times, the Manifesto is a typographic print printed on 100% recycled paper that has inspiring sentences like "Travel Often," "Start Doing Things You Love," and "When You Eat, Appreciate Every Last Bite." If you'd like to make a custom one as a gift, you can even ask graphic designer Aileen Bennett to create one for you.

6. 20x200 Art Print

Who doesn't love a limited edition art print? Search through 20x200 to find affordable art for your friend. Jen Bekman curates this shop which has everything from funny, typographic prints to animal and architecture photography. Because each print only starts at around $20, you'll be able to quickly and cheaply pick something out without breaking the bank. Recently, 20x200 collaborated with West Elm to offer a line of gallery frames designed to fit artwork sold on that site.

7. Gift Certificate to Fab.com

Can't decide on what to get your friend but know that they love modern design? Get them a gift certificate at Fab.com and let them pick out their own! Launched in April 2010, Fab.com has quickly grown to become one of the best places to find lighting, jewelry, art posters, books and more. With prices that are up to 70% off retail, Fab.com is a great one-stop-shop to find beautiful, hand-curated goods.


8. Lunatik Lynk Watch

While the story about how founder Scott Wilson brought the Lunatiks products to life is inspiring enough, the watch conversion kits can stand for themselves as fantastic products. The new Lynk version has the same aerospace grade aluminum frame as the original, but has been upgraded with an anodized aluminum band and full butterfly clasp. Gorgeous, sharp-looking and lightweight, you just have to pop in your iPod Nano to take it from a music player to a wonderfully classic timepiece.


9. Moleskin Products

A classic moleskin notebook will always be the perfect gift, but now you can give something a little more special. The Moleskin Writing Set Gift Box features a case that opens up and holds the pocket-sized ruled notebook and a roller pen. Of course, if you want to pick up a gift with a little more flair, you can get a limited edition Star Wars moleskin, or a Pac-Man daily planner.

10. Sky Umbrella

Still can't decide on what to get your friend who has everything? Why not pick up a best-selling item at the MoMA Store, the Tibor Kalman Sky Umbrella? This full-sized umbrella has a cheerful blue sky pattern underneath the classic black exterior that's sure to brighten up any day. With a durable wood handle and a manual open/close mechanism, this walking art piece is also a fully functional umbrella.

Which of these products do you love?

See more My Modern Met posts:
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Top 6 Fashion Inspiration Sites
Top 6 Art & Culture News Sites
Top 6 Sites That Inspire + Educate
Top 6 Sites To Stay Current on Art + Culture
Top Tech Tools to Save You Time and Money
Top Apps to Make Your Photos Pop
10 Apps to Enhance Your Offline Experience
Top 10 Sites to Help You Develop Your Creative Side
Top Ten Apps to Make Your Photos Pop!


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Alice Yoo is the founder and editor in chief of My Modern Metropolis, a place where trendspotters and art enthusiasts come to connect over creative ideas. After graduating from UCLA with a Bachelor's in Economics, Alice received her MBA, worked in advertising for MTV and then started My Modern Met in 2008. With over 3.2 million page views per month, My Modern Met is one of the leading art and culture destinations on the web.