2023 Holiday Gift Guide for Design Lovers

Christmas and New Year are approaching, which means the gift-giving season is almost here. We've handpicked a selection of items from top design brands to help you surprise the most important people in your life with a thoughtful, personalized gift this holiday season. From kitchenware designed by architects to collector’s items, games and stocking fillers that are sure to captivate the hearts of design aficionados of all ages, find the perfect present with our carefully curated gift guide for the upcoming holidays.

For the home:

Made of hand-made glass, the Grow mini greenhouse, designed by Caroline Wetterling for Design House Stockholm, provides a home for the smallest of flowers, and a nursery for the plant’s first stages of life. An enchanting and useful gift for those with a green thumb, the two-part design comprises a planter and a lid with a spout, doubling as a watering can.

The simple organic shapes of Alvar Aalto’s iconic glass vase collection were a revolutionary statement at the time of their design in 1936. Inspired by the fluidity of waves, the collection has since become a symbol of Nordic design. The iconic mouthblown vases, produced by Iittala, are the perfect gift for lovers of modern Scandinavian design; the newest addition in cranberry red is available for a limited time this holiday season.

The Carl Hansen & Søn Alpaca Collection is our safe bet to gift someone this holiday season. Made from 100% fine alpaca wool sustainably sourced from the Andes Mountains, this classic collection of cushions and throws makes for a luxurious gift for the winter season, bringing coziness to any home.

Uten.Silo designed by Dorothee Becker in 1969 is a practical and quirky wall-mounted organizer suitable for various uses—from storing kitchen utensils, stationary, or toiletries and accessories. Made by Vitra, the versatile organizer is available in black, white and red, and is destined for that meticulously organised friend or terribly untidy family member.

For the gastronome:

For architects and coffee lovers, Aldo Rossi’s endearing collection of kitchen objects conceived as architecture produced by Alessi make for the gift of a lifetime. The simple geometric shapes conical and domed coffee makers and accompanying wares are striking additions to any kitchen. Alternatively, for those who prefer Arne Jacobsen’s Danish minimalism, there is the essential Cynda-line collection he designed for Stelton, while Norman Foster’s sculptural tableware collection is also a sophisticated choice for lovers of contemporary design. 

Lucienne Day's tea towel designs, originally launched in 1959, encapsulate the progressive talent of one of Britain's lasting creative minds. Produced in 4 different versions by twentytwentyone, the linen tea towels are as much stand-alone design objects as functional household items, thus perfect for both culinary and design enthusiasts.

Italian glassware design company Ichendorf has a long-standing history of creating beautiful objects through the interweaving of tradition and innovation. Among the pure forms and colourful designs, our firm favourite remains the stackable High Rise collection designed by Keiji Takeuchi—inspired by skyscrapers, the collection is a lesson in compact design and minimalism.

Gift someone an item from George Sowden's colourful kitchen collection for HAY to bring joy to even the most mundane of daily tasks. Featuring, among others, a toaster, juicer, coffee pot and salt and pepper mills in the collection’s signature colours, the Sowden collection makes a statement in any kitchen.

For the avid collector:  

Traditionally, Kokeshi dolls are Japanese figures that are seen as guardians of the home. The Sketch.inc collection produced by Lucie Kaas celebrates the music, art and fashion icons and trailblazers of our times reimagined as wooden Kokeshi dolls. Created both for collectors and fans of individual figures the dolls are modeled on, the Sketch.inc collection can be a great personalized gift for everyone.

One of the world’s most inventive design minds, Piero Fornasetti combined whimsy and elegance to transform everyday objects like cups, scarves, and screens into works of art much sought-after by collectors today. This year, Fornasetti brings a new selection of decorative plates inspired by the holiday season to its iconic Tema e Variazioni series featuring the unmistakable symbol of the brand—the face of 19^th century opera singer Lina Cavalieri.

For over two decades, the Vitra Design Museum has been making miniature replicas of milestones in furniture design from its collection. The Miniatures Collection encapsulates the entire history of industrial furniture design—from Art Nouveau to the Bauhaus, through Radical Design and Postmodernism, all the way up to the present day. With more than 60 iconic designs to choose from, these miniature replicas make for a great gift for design aficionados.

For the youngest:

As Christmas is the most magical part of the year for children, we put extra thought into picking designs guaranteed to bring joy to your little ones this holiday season. Our top choice for children this season is CARtools by Floris Hovers for Magis. The box of classic building bricks encourages imaginative exploration through endless configurations, while its vibrant colors and playful design evoke a charming, vintage comic aesthetic.

For the youngest architecture fans, ferm LIVING have created a series of products for endless hours of building and decorating. Inspired by the architecture of Copenhagen, the Little Architect Blocks, made from solid wood, allow children to play with shapes, texture and composition while building fanciful structures. Other great gift ideas for aspiring architects are ferm LIVING’s reinterpretation of a classic Funkis House, crafted from natural plywood provides a charming spot for children to keep their favourite treasures, as well as the Braided A-House, a transportable dollhouse made of rattan with little rooms for children to decorate.

The Vikings of Denmark by Jacob Jensen for Andersen Furniture have brought joy to many homes for generations, and likely many more to come, making them a timeless choice for both children and collectors. Offering a delightful fusion of creativity and nostalgia, the wooden figurines’ heads and weapons can be disassembled and reassembled in different ways, allowing for the creation of various characters.

For festive fun:

“For those who desire playful moments enhanced by a touch of refinement”, the Games Collection co-created by Giobagnara and Poltrona Frau transforms some of the most iconic board games through a contemporary aesthetic and sophisticated materials that are sure to enhance gameplay.

Designed by graphic designer Clara von Zweigbergk for Hay, Play breathes new life into some of the most popular board games through the use of fresh colors and appealing graphics. A contemporary collection those with an eye for design will surely appreciate, Hay Play is both a great gift, and a great way to spend the festive days.

 

Roma Manikhin’s saucy deck of playing cards created for Normann Copenhagen aims to inject a much-needed dose of humour to the world. With 54 seductive acts inspired by burlesque shows, sailor tattoos, and erotic postcards, the playing cards are guaranteed to bring some additional fun to games night.

Stocking fillers:

Gift someone a personalised room fragrance this season with Moooi x EveryHuman. You can choose from three brand new room fragrances from the scent library or create your own room fragrances using Artificial Intelligence. The smaller versions make for perfect stocking fillers, or you can gift someone the experience of creating their own scent with the giftcard option.

The Nathalie Du Pasquier Tote Bag designed by designer and founding member of the iconic Memphis group Nathalie Du Pasquier makes for a practical and striking gift for lovers of bold design. Produced as an exclusive edition of 1500 pieces by twentytwentyone, the tote is made from Fairtrade organic cotton and features a three-colour screenprint.

For those fascinated by the history of furniture design, Vitra Design Museum’s Chair Collection poster makes for a great conversation piece. Featuring 224 selected designs, the chairs are arranged chronologically according to design year, from Jean-Joseph Chapuis’ 1802 Chaise de Garde to a design by Jonathan Muecke from 2022.