I see a lot of sites out there listing gift ideas for graphic designers so I thought I would put my own together so you all know what to get me :)

Sketchbooks

Like this on from Moleskin. As a designer you never know when inspiration will strike but with this pocket sized notebook you can quickly jot down notes or a quick sketch when it does.

Wacom Tablets

You would be the hero of just about any designer/photographer/artist if you bought him the Wacom Cintiq above but if you don’t have $2,000 to shell out on him or her (even though we all know they are worth every penny), then the smaller Wacom Bamboo tablets make a great accessory as well. Plus they’re easy to throw into a laptop bag and take to your favorite coffee house for a change of scenery.

Photoshop Plugins

Like the ones from Alien Skin. Not only are these great time savers, but they open up a lot of options for creativity as well.

Digital Camera

Like this super awesome Canon 7D (hint hint) from B&H. There are countless times when you just can’t find that perfect stock photo for your design or perhaps you need a decent headshot of someone for their website. A gift card from B&H is a great addition even if they already have a camera.

Office Chair

Especially if it has a massage function like this one. We spend a lot of time sitting in front of a monitor, so this gift idea would definitely get a lot of use. Your designer will thank you every time he/she sits down to work (or just waste time on tumblr).

Espresso Maker

We’ve all come across that deadline that sneaks up on us requiring an all-nighter or perhaps, like me, your designer has built up quite a tolerance to normal amounts of caffeine. This Wolfgang Puck Espresso Machine is the ultimate gift to add productivity to those slow days.

Gift Cards

When all else fails gift cards to Apple for computer accessories, iTunes for music and apps, Starbucks or B&H are excellent ways to say “Thank you for being such a big help to me and my business” to your graphic designer.

Are you a designer/photographer/artist? What is on your list?

funnyordie:

Help Will Ferrell give scholarships to cancer survivors

We hope you enjoyed Will Ferrell’s special duet with John C. Reilly. That was our gift to you. Now stop being selfish and join Will in the holiday spirit by helping him raise money to give college scholarships to cancer survivors.

Happy holidays!

Here’s another way to give back

This holiday season please don’t forget that there are many people who are less fortunate than us. It’s a great time of year to give back and help your fellow man. There are hundreds of charitable organizations that you can get involved in, either by donating or just volunteering some time.

Here are a few of the local charities I’ve worked with along with a link to their national counterpart (for those of you outside of East Texas).

Local Charity / National Organization

Smith County Red Cross / American Red Cross

CASA for Kids of East Texas / CASA National

Toys for Tots, Tyler, TX / Toys for Tots, National  

For the Silent

Plus, don’t forget your local churches!

If you’re not sure of an organization’s authenticity be sure to check them out first. The Better Business Bureau website is a great resource for that.

I encourage everyone to get involved this Christmas, and throughout 2011.