Though we can hardly believe it, the time has come for end-of-year giving to family, friends, colleagues, clients, and good causes. This year, architects and designers representing 14 companies worldwide gave ARCHITECT their recommendations for gift ideas as well as charitable or nonprofit organizations deserving of donations. For even more ideas, check out ARCHITECT's Gift Guide archive. Pricing and availability are subject to change, particularly with the ongoing challenges in the supply chain.
Recommendations by John Arndt, partner at Studio Gorm and professor of product design at the University of Oregon School of Art + Design, Eugene, Ore.
Kintsugi Kit, POJ Studio ($133)
The traditional Japanese method of Kintsugi embraces the philosophy that breakage and repair become part of an item’s story, a moment to highlight. As such, the Kintsugi Kit by Kyoto, Japan–based POJ Studio is a great gift for those passionate about mending things, a trend popularized with the "right to repair" movement. "This one is a bit of a time investment but excellent for enhancing broken things through repair using Kintsugi and with lacquer and gold leaf," Arndt says. The kit includes kiurushi and eurushi lacquers, 24-karat gold powder, gloves, tools, and access to a free online course. pojstudio.com
Tableware, Grethe Meyer (from $34)
Late architect and designer Grethe Meyer was a force majeure in shaping the Danish aesthetic beyond buildings. "Her tableware is so thoughtfully designed and a joy to use," Arndt says. "Fortunately, some have been put back into production in recent years." Meyer prioritized simplicity, functionality, and longevity in her stoneware, faience, stemware, and cutlery, including items she designed for Royal Copenhagen and the currently available 1970s FDB Møbler stoneware collection and the 1965 BLÅ "Blue Line" collection. "Designing for people is what truly counts," Meyer once said. "I feel it is my obligation. It is also the most profound of human relationships: being able to pass on my love to others through the objects I have designed." finnishdesignshop.com/grethe_meyer and bodum.com
Give to: Dastkar
Established 40 years ago, Dastkar is both a society for traditional Indian crafts and craftspeople—mostly women in rural India—and an nongovernmental organization that works to support these craftspeople through policy advocacy and providing resources such as skills training, product development, and capacity-building workshops. Dastkar also provides an e-marketing platform for its artisans that features textiles, embroidery, and intricate wall hangings. dastkar.org
Recommendations by H. Ruth Todd, FAIA, president of Page & Turnbull, which has offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Sacramento, Calif.
Cocktail napkins, Atelier Saucier ($28 to $36 per set of four)
Your last cocktail reception might be but a faint memory, but these cocktail napkins can bring fun and a punch of color to events of any size and purpose while minimizing waste. Made entirely from reclaimed fabric, including burlap, corduroy, and linen, the washable and reusable 5"-square napkins from the Los Angeles–based modern tableware design studio come in an array of colors and patterns and with eye-catching edging. "These are wonderful napkins that vary in material and expression, including retro and holiday styles," Todd says. "It's a design-forward gift any time of year." ateliersaucier.la
Baked Goods, Homeboy Bakery (goodies from $16.95; gift packages from $34.95)
The first social enterprise of Homeboy Industries, the Los Angeles–based gang rehabilitation and re-entry program, Homeboy Bakery trains and employs dozens of individuals both in making its yummy goods and in managing the growing business. It also supplies retail stores and local restaurants and cafés with its products. "Since 1992, they have made fresh, preservative-free breads, cakes, rolls, Danish, muffins, scones, pies, pretzels, cookies, and more!" Ruth enthuses. homeboyfoods.com
Give to: Homeboy Industries
Founded by Father Gregory Boyle, a Jesuit priest who served as pastor of what was, in 1986, the poorest Catholic parish in Los Angeles, Homeboy Industries is the world’s largest re-entry program for former gang members and the recently incarcerated. "It has become a blueprint for more than 250 organizations and social enterprises around the world, from Alabama and Idaho, to Guatemala and Scotland," Ruth says. "Plus you can buy gifts from their bakery and farmers market!" homeboyindustries.org
Recommendations by Joshua Zinder, AIA, founder and managing partner at Joshua Zinder Architecture + Design and 2021 president of AIA New Jersey, Princeton, N.J.
The Notebooks and Drawings of Louis I. Kahn and Reader's Guide, Designers & Books ($110, available for pre-order; expected delivery by February 2022 due to supply-chain issues)
Made possible by a 2021 Kickstarter campaign by Brooklyn, N.Y.–based Designers & Books in honor of the 20th-century architect’s 120th birthday, this set includes a hardcover reprint of the 1964 facsimile featuring Kahn’s own images and words (Kahn loved this book, according to his son). "To have a window into a master’s process is illuminating," Zinder says. "I closely identify with Kahn, whose view of the world and the craft was simultaneously monumental and humanistic." Included as a companion is a new 120-page softcover Reader’s Guide, filled with previously unpublished photos and essays, including one by architect and graphic designer Richard Saul Wurman, who edited the original edition. yalebooks.yale.edu
The Dillinger, Heirloom Lures ($50)
In the 1930s, William F. Egar began making lures from his Florida home, including the Dillinger, coined by locals for its stripes that recalled the prison garb of Depression-era gangster John Dillinger. Today, artist Christopher Augustus crafts reproductions of the lures, including the Dillinger, McGinty, and Eureka Wiggler. "Recreated by hand from early 20th-century patents, these lures each come with a copy of the original patent drawing, giving them an architectonic feel and fusing my passions for design and fishing," Zinder says. "I'm giving my brother the Dillinger because of its great backstory—and because the three hooks might improve his luck." (A zinger from Zinder!) heirloomlures.com
Give to: HomeWorks Trenton
The New Jersey nonprofit run by executive director Natalie Tung operates a free, after-school residential program focused on cultivating community leadership, empowerment, and healthy social-emotional development for young women in high school. "What Natalie is doing to transform the lives of marginalized young women and help them achieve their potential is amazing and inspiring," Zinder says. homeworkstrenton.org
Recommendations by Jeanine Hays and Bryan Mason, co-owners of the interior design business AphroChic, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Queen Abolition Icon Tee, Roberto Lugo for The Metropolitan Museum of Art ($45)
This unisex tee features a detail from the digital work Queen Abolition (2021), created by Philadelphia-based artist, spoken-word poet, and activist Roberto Lugo for the ongoing Metropolitan Museum of Art exhibition Before Yesterday We Could Fly: An Afrofuturist Period Room. Lugo is known for reimagining classical pottery, often featuring the faces of icons such as Sojourner Truth, Erykah Badu, and Cornel West. "Lugo is one of our favorite artists," Hays and Mason say. "His sculptures make profound statements on racial injustice, and this tee is a wonderful way to celebrate his work and art that makes a difference." store.metmuseum.org
Vintage Beaded and Shell Punu Mask, distributed by Global Attic ($500)
Handcrafted in Gabon, this mask composed of white and red beads and cowrie shells is one of dozens curated by Global Attic, the Chicago-based retailer of "tribal luxe" décor. "Global Attic is a trusted source for items from around the world," the AphroChic founders say. "We love its Africa Collection, which features masks sourced directly from the African continent. It’s our go-to place for African masks." globalattic.com
Give to: NAACP Legal Defense Fund
The NAACP is the nation’s oldest civil rights organization, and its nonprofit Legal Defense Fund cut its teeth coordinating a legal strategy to end enforced public school segregation, culminating in the landmark 1954 Supreme Court decision Brown v. the Board of Education. "The Legal Defense Fund fights racial discrimination, works to protect the civil rights of all Americans, and is doing critical work to uphold voting rights—all things we believe in as a brand," Hays and Mason say. naacpldf.org
Recommendations by Deborah Myers, principal at Deborah Myers Landscape Architecture, Boston
Fashion by the Zuri Label (prices vary)
The Zuri shop features everything from batik dresses and men’s shirts to beaded belts—and all with vibrant patterns and colors. "Every piece of clothing made with the Zuri label is ethically sourced and directly supports women as makers," Myers says. These makers include artisanal weavers in West Bengal and Kenya, batik dyers in Ghana, and stitch-resist dyers in Dakar. Also check out the shop’s psychedelic art prints by Nairobi artist Dennis Muraguri. shopzuri.com
Twist a Twill Blanket, Tina Ratzer ($200)
The Copenhagen, Denmark–based textile designer Tina Ratzer—whose work has been displayed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York—first created the popular 100% wool blanket Twist a Twill for the Danish design company Silkeborg Uldspinderi in 2018. "The best go-to gift for designers and everyone in your life," Meyers says. "I have gifted dozens of these wool blankets to friends, clients, and family!" The Finnish Design Shop sells the blanket in powder pink, petrol blue, and light and dark grey; also available in Europe at Silkeborg Uldspinderi. finnishdesignshop.com/ratzer and silkeborg-uld.com
Give to: HomeStart
HomeStart is a Boston-based organization aiming to prevent and end homelessness in the region, where an estimated 7,600 folks go without shelter on any given night. "[T]hey focus on developing strategies to prevent homelessness before it starts," Meyers says. For 25 years, the nonprofit has provided eviction-prevention services in the form of rental-assistance and housing payments. homestart.org
Recommendations by Karen Kubey, urbanist; adjunct associate professor at Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation; and visiting associate professor of interior design at the Pratt Institute, Brooklyn
Untold Treasures in Your Local Buy Nothing Group (being neighborly is free!)
As The Wall Street Journal recently posited, Buy Nothing groups may be an antidote for inflation—not to mention waste and environmental issues—with 2 million members joining in 2021 alone. Established in 2013, the Buy Nothing Project is a network of thousands of local gift economy communities run by volunteers in 44 countries. "I've been blown away by what I've received from my neighborhood's Buy Nothing group, and I’m happy to give to neighbors things I no longer need," says Kubey, who recently scored an "adorable vintage blue-and-white dress." Other items exchanged in the groups include bicycles, jewelry, haircuts, babysitting services, medical supplies, and dryer lint. bnponfb.org.
Nail Wraps, Orly x Lisa Frank ($11.99)
Artist and rainbow tycoon Lisa Frank—the queen of a dayglo coterie of baby leopards, coy unicorns, and pandas sporting overalls that adorned elementary-school binders and notebooks worldwide in the 1990s and beyond—has partnered with Los Angeles–based Orly for a line of nail wraps. "Rarely adorned, I've found so much joy from this nostalgic purchase," says Kubey, whose current favorite is Hunter. orlybeauty.com
Give to: BlackSpace Urbanist Collective
New York–based BlackSpace Urbanist Collective is a growing network of Black planners, architects, artists, designers, activists, and urbanists who create and protect Black spaces. The BlackSpace Manifesto outlines its mission, with value-informed directives like "seek people at the margins," "plan with, design with," and "reckon with the past to build the future." blackspace.org
Recommendations by Gregory Ibañez, FAIA, co-founder of Ibañez Shaw Architecture, Fort Worth, Texas
The Perfect Sketchbook Signature Series 2021 (Hot or Cold Press), Etchr Lab ($75)
Designed in collaboration with watercolorist and educator Erwin Lian, these limited edition handbound sketchbooks contain 52 pages of acid-free, 100% cotton Fabriano Artistico paper bound inside a vegan-friendly, leatherlike, polyurethane cover and oriented along a portrait format. The sketchbooks open flat, exposing deckled, hand-torn pages. "The quality of the paper, cover, and binding make these a great choice for ink wash or watercolor drawing, in studio or en plein air," Ibañez says. etchrlab.com
Fountain Pen Inks, The Birmingham Pen Co. (from $9)
The Birmingham Pen Co. offers a range of stunning, hand-manufactured fountain-pen inks, bottled in its workshop just north of Pittsburgh. The inks—available in hues such as rich gerbera crimson, joyful daisy lace yellow, and classic gunpowder black—are produced in small batches using carefully selected dyes and pigments added to an "ink" vehicle, according to the company. These "unique colors and shades flow beautifully from fountain pens or can be used as ink washes," Ibañez says. birminghampens.com
Give to: The Welman Project
Founded in 2015, the nonprofit organization "promotes education and sustainability by distributing surplus materials [from businesses] to schools and nonprofits" in the Fort Worth area, Ibañez says. The list of goods donated includes art and office supplies, furniture, and paper. thewelmanproject.org
Recommendations by Samantha Josaphat, founder of Studio 397 Architecture, New York
Freedom Headrest, Humanscale (from $1,249)
Created by industrial designer Niels Diffrient, this sleek, ergonomically sensitive office chair automatically adapts to its user as they move throughout the day, according to the New York–based contract furnishings company. The chair’s contoured cushions, self-adjusting recline, and synchronous armrests allows busy architects "to make sure they are always physically well without having to think about it all the time," Josaphat says. Freedom, which comes in a range of textiles, leathers, and hardware finishes, is also a net climate-, energy-, and water-positive product. humanscale.com
Carbonator III, Aarke (from $219)
As beautiful as it is functional, this freestanding carbonator is for the sparkling-water addict in your life. With a stainless-steel nozzle and body and damper-controlled lever, the device embodies quality design while reducing single-use plastic bottle waste. "It’s important to stay hydrated throughout the day," Josaphat says. "Why not spice it up with an extra lift of bubblies?" aarke-usa.com
Give to: East New York Restoration LDC
This New York nonprofit is helping keep the city "clean and green" through renewable energy education programs and weekly street cleaning, just to name of its two initiatives. enyrestoration.networkforgood.com
Recommendations by Paul Gates, design director of design and brand consultancy Landini Associates, Sydney
Deconstructed Mini Zip, Ugg ($130)
This simple and versatile boot, in chestnut or black and with a 5.5" boot shaft, departs from the classic, fuzzy Ugg shoe profiles with its smooth leather upper and lateral zipper. "A pair of deconstructed Ugg boots and a good bottle of scotch—what more could you want?!" Gates asks. (Keep reading for his scotch recommendation.) ugg.com
Christie’s Cut Single Malt Whisky, Timboon Railway Shed Distillery (from $95)
With a 60% ABV (alcohol by volume), this malt offers a "long, full-flavored finish" with notes of burnt raisins, silk, smoke, and spice, according to the distillery, located southwest of Melbourne, Australia. "Timboon's Christie's Cut is an unrestrained single malt Australian scotch whiskey, displaying a balance of flavours with a pleasant viscosity and smooth, clean finish," Gates says. timboondistillery.com.au
Give to: Creative Growth
The Oakland, Calif.–based nonprofit organization provides a 12,000-square-foot studio environment and gallery representation for more than 140 artists with developmental disabilities who work in a variety of mediums. creativegrowth.org
Recommendations by Dash Marshall, the fictitious namesake founder of Dash Marshall, New York and Detroit
Yun Hai Selection Dried Fruit Sampler, Yun Hai ($38)
This sampler selection of thick dried fruit slices sourced by the woman-owned business from independent farmers contains one bag each of golden diamond pineapple, irwin mango, pearl guava, and wax apple. Each purchase helps support Taiwanese farmers, particularly amid the current trade volatility, and helps snackers yearning to travel to "enjoy a bite and dream of Raohe market," Dash Marshall says. yunhai.shop
Hightide Co. Hourglass, Hightide (from $15)
Tired of using your phone timer? This handmade hourglass, available in 30-, 15-, 5-, and 3-minute intervals, is "perfect and slow," Dash Marshall says. The delicate piece of clear, amber, blue, green, or turquoise glassware can be filled with black or white sand. hightidestoredtla.shop
Give to: Office Hours
Founded to increase the representation of creatives and designers of color, this artist-led nonprofit is a platform where "mutual aid becomes mutual power becomes justice," Dash Marshall says. Office Hours founder Esther Choi contributed to ARCHITECT’s One Year Later series. office-hours.design
Recommendations by Monograph CEO and co-founder Robert Yuen, Assoc. AIA; community marketing manager Silvia Lee, AIA; and product marketing manager Joann Lui, AIA, San Francisco
Stagg EKG Electric Kettle, Fellow Products ($159)
Shopping for a caffeine addict? This award-winning electric kettle is a cult favorite of the design world. "If you are a coffee lover, your home-brewing coffee set isn't complete without a beautiful kettle by Fellow," Lee says. Available in a color range that includes matte black and polished steel, the sculptural pour-over kettle includes degree-specific temperature control up to 212 F and a 60-minute temperature hold. fellowproducts.com
Steel Toe Meti Boot, Juno Jones ($260)
For the architect with site visits in their future, these Juno Jones performance work boots double as a stylish wardrobe staple. Even more, they were created by women to "help normalize the idea of women in nontraditional fields," according to the company. Available in espresso brown and raven black, the jodhpur-style Meti ankle boot has a steel toe and is made from locally sourced, environmentally-certified leather treated to be waterproof and chemical-resistant. junojonesshoes.com
Give to: The National Organization of Minority Architects
Founded 50 years ago, NOMA promotes the quality and excellence of design professionals of color nationwide. "As an Asian American architectural designer, NOMA's mission resonates deeply with me," Yuen says. "I believe the industry as a whole will continue to improve access to education, mentorship, and employment opportunities to underrepresented minorities." Read more about NOMA in ARCHITECT’s October 2021 issue, guest edited by NOMA. noma.net
Recommendations by Amy Lim, marketing manager at Cooper Robertson, New York
The Geometry of Pasta, Bluebird / Pan Macmillan (from $14.95)
Inspired by technical plumbing drawings, graphic designer Caz Hildebrand and Bocca di Lupo founder Jacob Kenedy co-authored The Geometry of Pasta (anniversary edition, Bluebird / Pan Macmillan, 2021) to pay homage to the artistry and diversity of pasta shapes. Filled with intricate black and white drawings of curving agnolotti, basketlike canestrini, and more, this "beautifully designed book" is perfect for "the pasta and design lover in your life," Lim says. geometryofpasta.com
Recommendations by Patricia Acevedo Fuentes, AIA, market leader and senior project manager at JLG Architects, Rapid City, S.D.
Gustos Coffee, Gustos Coffee Co. (from $14)
Founded in 1999 by Daniel Omar Torres and Grisel León, Gustos Coffee Co. distributes specialty coffee roasted from beans grown on their farm in Yauco, Puerto Rico, as well as from local farmers. "As a good Puerto Rican, my entire life has been fueled by good coffee," Acevedo Fuentes says. "Gustos is the best." New to the company's offerings is a weekly to monthly subscription of its coffee selections, which include Gustos Premium, Single Origin Gusos Reserva, and Chupacabra, a blend of Colombia and Puerto Rico beans. gustoscoffeeco.com
Wade Patton Earrings, B.Yellowtail (from $95)
Crafted by Wade Patton, an artist and citizen of the Oglala Lakota Nation, these minimalist, geometric earrings are detailed with colorful beading inspired by the clouds of South Dakota and by Patton’s heritage. Each pair of triangle-shaped earrings is outfitted with 18-karat gold–plated hooks and brass findings. "Wade is a kind soul and an extremely talented artist," Acevedo Fuentes adds. byellowtail.com
Give to: Fork Real
This nonprofit, pay-what-you-can community café in Rapid City, S.D., "was started by [my older daughter’s] elementary school teacher," says Acevedo Fuentes, adding that her daughter "has been volunteering her summers serving at the café since she was in middle school. The project has been as impactful on the community as it has been on the volunteers' lives." forkrealcafe.org
Recommendations by Alvin Huang, AIA, founder of Synthesis Design + Architecture and director of graduate architecture and professor at USC School of Architecture, Los Angeles
Lace by Jenny Wu (from $90)
The co-founder of Los Angeles–based Oyler Wu crafts her line of sinuous necklaces, sculptural rings, and other fine jewelry pieces through digital modeling and 3D-printing technology. "The pieces are sexy, sophisticated, and elegant in a wide range of materials, from nylon powder to precious metals," Huang says. "These stunning pieces are great examples of how digital fabrication and hand-craftsmanship can intersect to create work that couldn't be manufactured in any other way." Her latest line, the Carbon Fiber Collection, is a collaboration with Northbrook, Ill.–based 3D printer and materials company Impossible Objects. jennywulace.com
Lüp Ceramics, Emerging Objects (from $20)
For the home goods aficionado, this new product line from Ron Rael and Virginia San Fratello of Emerging Objects lies at the intersection of traditional clay forms and 3D-printed functional ceramics. Designed using the Emerging Objects Potterware application, the Lüp pieces are produced "co-botically," with robots and humans working in tandem. From textured plates to a porcelain basket, "the pieces examine the intersection of high-tech design and fabrication processes with low-tech materials to produce a novel typology of ceramics that is defined by lines in space rather than surfaces and volumes," Huang says. lupceramics.com (dishware); christinagrajales.com (vase)
Give to: Design As Protest
The DAP Collective is dedicated to advancing design justice in the built environment. "Like most disciplines, architecture has historically been defined by a canon prescribed by the dominant white male perspective," Huang says. "Now is the time to change that. However, as practicing architects, designers, educators, and students, we have inherited these perspectives and systems. We can't rush into making superficial changes. We need to spend time re-educating ourselves so that we can question and challenge the systems that produce the results we have grown to live with." dapcollective.com
This article has been updated since first publication.
