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’Tis the season: Welcome back to the IIDA holiday gift guide. Now in its second year, this annual roundup has officially become a tradition — and your trusted source for finding design-forward gifts that delight, surprise, and stand the test of time. From analog revivals to thoughtful rituals, this year’s picks celebrate objects that spark joy, invite pause, and elevate the everyday. Whether it’s a scent that smells like summer, a throw that doubles as art, or a mini guitar for the next musical prodigy, consider this your shortcut to giving — and living — with great design. You’ll find objects for every moment of the day, from early morning sweat sessions to aperitivo hour and mindful nighttime routines. Let’s unwrap some good design together!

move

KNWL Sx Nike FW25 Air Max Muse Elemental Pink 01
Color-forward, sculptural footwear
KNWLS × Nike Air Max Muse
A fashion-grade trainer that still means business. The pointed toe cap and corset-inspired lacing nod to KNWLS’ sculptural edge, while the cushioned sole keeps it firmly in Nike territory. Equal parts statement and staple — surprisingly versatile with denim or at the gym.
$208, knwls.com
BALA The Weight Kit
A home gym that doubles as good design
Bala The Weight Kit + Tangram SmartRope (LED)
Design-forward bangles, bars, and hand weights that are as aesthetic as they are efficient — plus a high-tech jump rope that projects and tracks your reps mid-air in a flash of LED light. Proof that movement can look as good as it feels.
$312.30, shopbala.com; $79.95, tangramfactory.com
Linus Bike
Designed for the ride — and the living room
Linus Dutchi 3
A step-through classic with modern components — upright comfort, easy handling, and a timeless silhouette. This bike is an everyday essential that doubles as a décor statement. Meaning: park it next to your sofa and it'll only add to the visual vibes.
$869, linusbike.com

WORK

Analog starter kit
Plan your day like a designer, not a multitasker
Ugmonk Analog Starter Kit
Three tactile cards and a handsome stand turn priorities into something you can actually see — and finish. It’s analog on purpose: fewer distractions, better focus, prettier desk.
$99, ugmonk.com
Notebook
Carry inspiration, refill forever
Paper Republic Grand Voyageur + Acrylic Fountain Pen
A leather travel notebook you can endlessly refill, paired with a vivid acrylic fountain pen that turns note-taking into an elegant ritual. Picture analog tools made for those who still love the feel of pen on paper.
$68, paper-republic.com; $150, topdrawershop.com
HMM Scissors
Scissors as totem
HMM Scissors
When Japanese stainless steel meets Taiwanese craftsmanship, the result is an award-winning design. Black titanium blades stand upright, and razor-sharp utility pairs with desk-art presence to turn every snip into a design moment.
$50, hmmproject.com

CREATE

Kintsugi
Repair the crack, celebrate the story
Humade “New Kintsugi” Kit
Kintsugi — a Japanese art form that traces its origins to the late 15th century — embraces imperfection by mending broken ceramics with golden seams. This modern kit gives favorite pieces a second, more interesting life. It’s wabi-sabi you can hold.
$185, omakase-forest.com
Pocket Scion
Make nature audible
Pocket SCÍON Biofeedback Instrument
A handheld device — portable, battery-powered, and pocket-sized — that listens to the tiny electrical signals in plants and turns them into sound. A little science, a lot of wonder, and endless creative rabbit holes.
$149, pocketscion.com
Bonsai Tools
Tiny forest, big craft
Kaneshin Bonsai Tool Roll
Japanese steel tools designed for shaping, pruning, and styling miniature trees. Pair with a bonsai — whether a humble starter or a well-tended specimen — for a meditative hobby that rewards patience and precision: a living sculpture with serious design cred.
$28, gardenheir.com

CONNECT

Bang Olufsen 2
Sound that travels
Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1
Pocketable 360-degree audio in a beautifully engineered shell — from picnic to party, podcasts to playlists. It pairs Danish design with rich, detailed sound. (Bonus: it’s waterproof.)
$399, bang-olufsen.com
Projector
Movie night, anywhere
XGIMI Elfin Flip Projector
Crisp projection in a slim, portable body with quick setup for spontaneous screenings. Small enough to stash in a tote but powerful enough to fill a wall, it pairs best with popcorn, blankets, and friends who’ll inevitably ask, “Where’d you get this?”
$249, xgimi.com
Oura Ring IMG2
Form, function, and eight hours of sleep
Oura Ring Gen 4 (Ceramic)
The newest Oura Ring, reimagined in ceramic, tracks the metrics you actually care about — sleep stages, a physical and mental readiness score, and recovery — hiding world-class tech inside a minimal band that looks as good as it performs.
$499, ouraring.com

HOST

Oyster Plate
Half a dozen reasons to throw a raw-bar party
Oyster Half Dozen Platter
A sculptural platter with six tidy wells and a center sauce nest that makes shucking feel chic. Add lemon, hot sauce, and a little crushed ice, and you’ve got instant “wow” with minimal effort and maximum style.
$53.95, coton-colors.com
Grinder
Joy at the table
Dusen Dusen “Everybody” Grinder
A cheerful beechwood grinder that brings color (and well, seasoning) to the table. Designed by pattern-happy studio Dusen Dusen, it’s a rare crowd-pleaser that looks as good on the shelf as it does in action.
$48, dusendusen.com
Carafe IMG2
Carafe, but make it cute
Maison Balzac J’ai Soif XL Carafe
A playful silhouette with a satisfying pour, inspired by the traditional drinkware found on French bedside tables. Expertly crafted from amber borosilicate glass, it turns the simple act of drinking water into a small moment of design — hydration, elevated.
$120, maisonbalzac.com

SAVOR

Gardenista IMG2
Spritz hour, with or without the spirits
Gardenista Ready-to-Serve Cocktails + Ghia Cocktail Box
Two ways to toast in style: Gardenista’s bright, garden-driven blends for the classic cocktail crowd, and Ghia’s bitter, citrusy apéritifs for those skipping the alcohol but not the flavor. Both look stunning on a bar cart — and taste like golden hour in a glass.
$59.97, drinkgardenista.com; $99, drinkghia.com
Matcha 2
A ritual, not just tea
DONA × Hario Matcha Tea Set
From Brooklyn to Japan, the collaboration blends heritage with modern simplicity. Ceremonial DONA matcha paired with Hario’s double-walled chawan (aka a matcha bowl) set you up for a daily ritual you’ll actually look forward to — and one worth leaving out on the counter.
$125, drinkdona.com
Pandoro
A star on every holiday table (literally)
Olivieri 1882 Pandoro Classico (750 g)
Handmade in Italy since 1882, this cloud-soft, star-shaped cake is the elegant cousin of panettone. Naturally leavened and long-fermented for exceptional flavor and lightness, it’s dusted with powdered sugar, sliced into rays, and guaranteed to make the room go quiet.
$125, olivieri1882.com

UNWIND

Serena throw
Graphic warmth that looks like art and feels like a nap
“Panoramica III” Merino Wool Throw by Serena Confalonieri
Woven from fine merino wool with a bold, architectural pattern by Milan-based designer Serena Confalonieri, this throw elevates sofas and quiet moments alike. Whether draped, folded, or hung on the wall, it’s comfort elevated to an art form.
$365, artemest.com
Candle
Smells like your garden is having its best day
Flamingo Estate — Roma Heirloom Tomato Candle
Green, peppery, and sun-kissed, this cult-favorite candle captures the essence of ripe tomatoes and freshly watered vines. A summer garden distilled — fresh without being sweet, nostalgic without cliché, and chic without even trying.
$57.60, flamingoestate.com
Bathrobe
You’ll never want to put on real clothes
Dusen Dusen Striped Bathrobe (MoMA)
A plush, color-blocked robe designed by Dusen Dusen in hues inspired by Frank Stella’s 1960s paintings. Lined with contrasting stripes and woven for pure comfort, it’s the robe you’ll reach for after showers, before coffee, and every lazy Sunday in between.
$158, store.moma.org

DREAM

Loftie clock
Go to bed without your phone — and wake up happier
Loftie Alarm Clock
Designed to restore calm to your nightstand, Loftie replaces your phone’s glow with a softer kind of light and a gentler wake-up. Its two-phase alarm and mindful soundscapes ease you into rest — and back into your day — without a single notification.
$169.99, byloftie.com
Dog blanket
Nordic tuck-in
Marimekko Koirapuisto Blanket (Olive/White)
Graphic, cozy, and just the right weight — your sofa’s new favorite layer or your bed’s best accent. Designed by Finnish illustrator Matti Pikkujämsä, the blanket’s joyful dog-park pattern adds instant Nordic warmth and whimsy without overwhelming the room. Bonus: PUPPIES!
$155, finnishdesignshop.com
Beauty Oil
Bedtime glow-up
Kindred Black — Sleeping Beauty Oil
A lush nighttime face oil that softens both routine and skin. Hand-blended from botanical oils and packaged in a sculptural glass vessel, it’s as indulgent on the counter as it is on the skin. A lovely reminder to slow down before lights out.
$225, kindredblack.com

PLAY

Board Game IMG2
Classics that tidy themselves onto the bookshelf
WS Game Co. Vintage Bookshelf Games
Chess, Scrabble, Monopoly, and other classics disguised as linen-spined novels so you can leave them out — not stow them away. Pull a “book,” open a board, and turn a quiet night into game night.
$47, wsgamecompany.com
Areaware Gradient Puzzle
Color as a challenge
Areaware Gradient Puzzle
A hypnotic spectrum puzzle that doubles as coffee-table art. Designed by Bryce Wilner for Areaware, it turns color into meditation — arrange, rearrange, and enjoy the slow satisfaction of a perfect gradient coming together.
$20, areaware.com
Loog guitar
First riffs, best gift
Fender × Loog Stratocaster (Red)
A tiny three-string Strat, developed by Loog in partnership with Fender. Built for kids as young as 6, it brings big sound and real playability to small hands — the perfect start to a lifelong love of music. Looks great on a stand; sounds even better in action.
$229, loogguitars.com

LEAF THROUGH

Julia Watson Lo Tek Water
Indigenous ingenuity
Lo–TEK Water, by Julia Watson
A powerful case for traditional water systems and the Indigenous knowledge that sustains them. Julia Watson’s latest volume explores climate-resilient design through time-tested technologies — lessons for architects, policymakers, and anyone reimagining the future of cities and homes.
$60,taschen.com
Making Space book
Women shaping the spaces we live in
Making Space: Interior Design by Women, by Jane Hall
A sweeping survey of 250 interiors that reframes the canon with women at the center. Spanning styles, decades, and disciplines, it celebrates the visionaries who defined — and continue to define — how we live beautifully. The kind of book you’ll reference and keep within reach. Plus, IIDA members save 25%at Phaidon!
$59.95, phaidon.com
Virgil Abloh Book
Style, identity, and the meaning of getting dressed
Make It Ours, by Robin Givhan
The Pulitzer Prize–winning critic examines how clothing shapes culture and power through the story of Virgil Abloh’s boundary-breaking rise. Blending biography and cultural history, Givhan charts how streetwear stormed the gates of luxury and redefined who gets to belong.
$35, penguinrandomhouse.com

LOOK BACK

Nightsky Custom Star Map
The sky from your favorite night, on your favorite wall
The Night Sky — Custom Star Map
Choose a date and place to create a minimalist map recreating the stars overhead on your special night. Printed with museum-grade detail, it’s a love letter in constellations — perfect for anniversaries, new homes, or simply remembering where it all began.
$39, thenightsky.com
Retrospekt CP 81 Portable Cassette Player
Press play on nostalgia
Retrospekt CP-81 Portable Cassette Player
A modern take on the classic Walkman — clear-bodied, tactile, and made for mixtape romantics. With its line-in recording feature and that signature analog sound, it’s nostalgia you can hold (and hear).
$99, bespokepost.com
nstax Mini 12 + Instax Mini Link 2 Printer
Shoot it, share it, stick it on the fridge
Instax Mini 12 + Instax Mini Link 2 Printer
Capture the moment with the Instax Mini 12 — or print favorites directly from your phone with the Link 2 Printer. Create tangible memories, perfect for weddings, parties, or unexpected photo ops.
$93.95, instaxus.com; $116.95, instaxus.com

Craving more design inspiration? Explore IIDA’s inaugural holiday gift guide for even more timeless picks.