If you’re like me, your love is a custom home designer with a love of architecture and interior design. Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and if you and your love don’t exchange gifts like heart-shaped chocolates or “I Love You” teddy bears, you may be looking for some unique gift ideas that can be used beyond February 14.
One of the best ways I feel to find a gift that’s personalized and just what he wants is to listen. Listen to your loved one when they talk about what they need and want. Whether it’s a personal gift or something they need for work or business, just listening to what someone says is a great way to get them an unexpected, but useful and much-needed gift. This past Christmas, I got some kitchen gadgets that I’d had my eye on for a while. You may not think that’s a very loving or thoughtful gift, but so far it’s been one of my favorite and most-used. Take a look at the list below to find something that may fit that bill for the architect or designer you love.
*Please note none of the links in this article are affiliate links, they’re just some of our favorite products*
Table of Contents
Tools
Tech & Electronics Gifts
Chocolate & Treats
LEGO Sets
Drink Coasters
Trade Books
Be Cheesy (Or Not)
Gift Cards
Ask Us
Final Thoughts
Tools
Sketchbook
A lot of programs for sketching are on iPads and other tablets and even laptops that have touch-screen capabilities. These smaller devices allow for quick sketches on the go or out in the field. But a good sketchbook is still a must-have for many designers and architects. Working with pencil and paper is a great way to get a better feel for the concept than moving lines on a monitor. The best thing about this one is the top spiral – whether your love is left-handed or right-handed, it’s easy to use!
Pencils
A good set of sketching pencils in a variety of shades, colors, and materials is a thoughtful gift for the architect or designer in your life. Interior designers will use them to create an interior with the colors and patterns clients will love.
If you have a contractor or other tradesperson to buy for, consider carpenter pencils, or even professional colored pencils, as a loving, thoughtful, and useful gift.
Drafting Supplies
This typically applies to Christmas and birthday shopping, but it can apply to any type of gift shopping and giving occasion: Listen. What has your architect or designer been talking about needing or wanting, or getting replaced? Do they want to upgrade from plastic drawing stencils to metal? Do they need to upgrade or replace that 10 year old beginners kit they got at the start of college? Whatever the reasons are, replacement tools are often an appreciated and unexpected gift.
When people ask “how did you know!?” my response is usually “the last time I was here, you said you needed a new one.”
Tech & Electronics Gifts
Rocketbook
We like this most popular version of the Rocketbook, with its deceptive spiral-bound style and 8.5”x11” size. Open it up and create notes, doodles, sketches, lists, or whatever you need without worrying about paper pages flapping in the breeze outside, or having to sit down and draw. Not only is it easily erasable like a white board, it saves every stroke of the stylus to your chosen cloud storage. A bonus: the price point is a little easier to handle.
reMarkable
This product isn’t just a hot item in the architecture and design space, writers and authors like me like it, too! It’s similar to the Rocketbook, with more features including the ability to write, sketch, or read in color. It’s paperlike color as well as an interface that feels like writing with pen to paper is an added bonus for timid architects and designers having trouble with letting go of their pencils and paper sketchbooks. This bundle may be expensive, but it includes everything your designer needs. Reassure them that once they get back to the office, they can access their work in the cloud to print out if they really need something physical for extra note-taking.
Ultra Bright Architect Desk Lamp with Clamp
Brighten up a workspace with this sleek, minimalist desk lamp any architect or designer will love. This LED light bar with clamp is adjustable, shining and concentrating light on multiple monitors or areas of a workstation at once. Available in both black and white, it will have little trouble blending into the rest of your setup.
Chocolate & Treats
Valentine’s Day is a day for candy, oftentimes chocolate, a card, or another gift from this list. If the architect or designer you love this Valentine’s Day also loves chocolate, this could be the way to go. Apple Cookies & Chocolate Company has unique and yummy gifts for architects, designers, and other related trades. You can order cookies and chocolates in various shapes. Their most popular architect bundle includes a hard hat, compass, and protractor shapes. There’s even “warm weather” shipping should you be shipping to a site that may be 70 degrees or warmer. With the variety of professions covered, business owners may want to keep them in mind for the next Christmas gift to employees.
LEGO Sets
While you may think your architect or designer is “too old to play with LEGO sets,” let me assure you – they’re not. LEGO has an entire line of architecture-related building sets featuring world-famous structures and buildings. Choose from sets like Notre Dame, the Statue of Liberty or New York City skyline, Taj Mahal, and many more
Drink Coasters
During their schooling, architects and designers learn about some of the most famed and pioneering members of their trade. For many, one of those is Frank Lloyd Wright. He created beautiful stained glass panels, once seen, are easily identified as his work. These stone coasters on Amazon depict some of his most well-known designs.
Trade Books
While you may not think these to be a gift, many architects, designers, and the like always have advancing their skills in their trade at the top of their minds. Don’t hesitate to pick gifts like The Interior Design Handbook or The Architecture Reference & Specification Book updated & revised: Everything Architects Need to Know Every Day. If you’re an architect or designer who knows a teen or young person interested in the field, don’t hesitate to pick up Architecture for Teens: A Bigger Book for Aspiring Architects.
Be Cheesy (Or Not)
Much like the “World’s Greatest Mom” or “#1 Dad” or “A+ Teacher” gifts out there, there are plenty of similar items geared toward architects, designers, and others. For these types of gifts you need to know the person you’re buying for well: if they’re okay with a cheesy gift now and then, go for it. Keep in mind that these coffee mugs, bags, shirts, ties, and other items may not be used or displayed as frequently as something that downplays their profession a little more.
Gift Card
This gift doesn’t take a lot of time, thought, or energy. Still, you’ll have someone who says “I don’t need anything” or “I don’t want anything” and leave you grappling for ideas. This is where a gift card comes in handy. Purchase a card for a decent amount that will get the recipient more than just a few of the basics. Get it from their favorite design supply store, home improvement store, or somewhere like their favorite lunch spot you know they frequent.
Final Thoughts
The staff and designers at Acipe Design can help you find a gift for the architect or designer you love, while also helping you create your dream home from foundation to completion. We can help you explore everything that goes into building your custom home and curate your list of must-haves, then turn your vision into a reality.
Contact us today!