“Will Design for Money” T-Shirt, Words Brand | $18
Dual Brush Pens,
Tombow | $3.19 each or $26.99 for a set of 10
Refresh your colleagues’ marker
stashes so you can borrow them down the road. “I never cease to be amazed at how just a tiny bit of color
on a sketch makes it look like a pro did it,” Dallas-based architect Bob Borson, AIA, told
us when he recommended the pens for our 2015 lineup of architect-selected
year-end gifts. “Oh, guess what? I am a pro—or at least now I can look like
one.” There was never any question, Bob. tombowusa.com
Cap, The Architects
LA | $24.99 to $26.99
What happens when you overlay an L-square and a compass? Nothing,
usually. But this sartorial callback to the City of Angels is straight off a messy studio worktop. Ship it with good tidings to your West Coast colleagues
or sport the out-of-scale embroidered mashup at the jobsite. In various styles
and color combinations. thearchitectsla.com
The Lego Architect,
Tom Alphin | $24.95
What would a Corbu masterpiece look like made out of Lego
bricks? Lego enthusiast Tom Alphin—whose day job as a Microsoft
user-experience programmer funds his hobby—explores seven architectural building
styles from Neoclassical to Postmodern with the tiny plastic bricks. For extra inspiration when building with the newfangled LEGO Architecture Studio sets or a stash saved from childhood. nostarch.com
Carry on Cocktail
Kit, W&P Design | $24
For the savvy jet-setter, this carry-on-ready cocktail kit
from Brooklyn, N.Y., studio W&P Design has the tools and mixings for an Old
Fashioned, gin and tonic, or a Moscow Mule at cruising altitude. Each pocketable pack
is good for two drinks—one to savor and one to bribe a seat partner with for exclusive arm-rest access. wandpdesign.com
Christmas Tree, Alain
Ducasse | 55 euros ($60)
This tree-inspired confection made the list because it comes
flat-packed and ready to assemble. But rather than a seemingly random handful of
tiny pegs and hex wrenches, this tiered edible creation from the
French-born Michelin chef Alain Ducasse arrives with a set of white gloves to
wear while putting it together. Each layer comes pre-sprinkled with nuts and
dried fruit. Buy it to share and split the cost, which will put the treat at or under the $30 mark. lechocolat-alainducasse.com
Edition Two, Playing
Arts | $12.95
This 55-card poker deck features the unique illustrations of
that many independent artists. The first deck was released in April 2015 and was followed recently
by a second edition featuring the work of many of the same individuals. Each card
has a colorful backing designed by Lisbon, Portugal–based artist Danny Ivan, whose graphics
have been used by brands like Starbucks and Adobe in promotional material. The group is taking
submissions for future editions. playingarts.com
For more year-end gifts, check out our 2015 architects-choice gift guide.
