The Deeply Graphic Designcast - DGDC

Holiday Gift Guide 2025

The Deeply Graphic Designcast - DGDC

Show Notes

It’s that time of year again, and your two favorite design elves, Mikelle and Nick, are back with a sleigh full of wildly good gift ideas for creatives. In this year’s Holiday Gift Guide, we’re pulling out the deep cuts, the clever upgrades, and the treats that’ll make any designer’s heart grow three sizes.

From retro tech nostalgia to productivity lifesavers to “I definitely deserve this” splurges, we run through our full 2025 wishlist, why each item made the cut, and who on your studio team deserves one too. Expect laughs, unexpected gems, and maybe one or two confessions about our online shopping habits.

Whether you need the perfect gift for a designer friend, your favorite creative colleague, or just yourself because you nailed that last deadline, we’ve got you covered.

Grab the cocoa, hit play, and bookmark everything. Your cart is about to get dangerously full.

Another Studio Stencils https://www.another-studio.com/collections/stencils

Atari Gamestation Go https://atari.com/products/atari-gamestation-go?srsltid=AfmBOoq6M9OB6HIj2csHeLtCdAUkcaHgyzaousJwIM1n1mPAgQD3WEB_

LEGO Disney Pixar Luxo Jr. Set (21357) https://www.lego.com/en-us/product/disney-pixar-luxo-jr-21357

A6 Memobottle https://www.memobottle.us/products/a6-memobottle

Manta Sleep Mask Sound (New Gen) https://mantasleep.com/products/manta-sleep-mask-sound-new-gen

PocketDrum 2 Plus by Aeroband https://www.aeroband.net/products/pocketdrum2-plus

MacLock Retro Computer Clock https://theawesomer.com/maclock-retro-computer-clock/789827/

Oakywood Magnetic Cable Organizer https://oakywood.shop/products/magnetic-cable-organizer?_gl=115mp605_upMQ.._gs*NQ..&gclid=EAIaIQobChMImbrQ2uGmkQMV1V8IBB0TajqyEAEYASAEEgLw1PD_BwE

Better With Rhythm https://www.betterwithrhythm.com

The Magic Patio https://www.themagicpatio.com

Draplin Design Co. Posters https://www.draplin.com/merch/posters

Kintsugi Reborn (Handcrafted Goods) https://www.etsy.com/shop/KintsugiReborn

Imogene and Willie, Graphic Content Collection https://imogeneandwillie.com/collections/graphic-content

Teenage Engineering Audio & Synth Gear https://teenage.engineering/products/audio-and-synthesizers

Teenage Engineering Pocket Operators https://teenage.engineering/store/pocket-operators

More from The Deeply Graphic Designcast - DGDC

Oct 15, 2026

What does it really take to build a successful creative business? Spoiler alert: Great design skills are only part of the equation. This week, we're joined by Patrick Carter, founder and creative director of 63 Visual, to unpack the hard-earned lessons from nearly 17 years of running an independent design studio. From getting fired and getting ripped off to learning how to price confidently, recognize red flags, and build lasting client relationships, Patrick shares the experiences that shaped his approach to business. We dig into why trusting your instincts matters, how taking action builds confidence, and why success isn't always about getting bigger. Sometimes it's about getting better, making smarter decisions, and building a creative career that supports the life you actually want. Real stories, practical advice, and a refreshing reminder that confidence isn't something you're born with. It's something you earn. https://patrickcarterdesign.com/ https://deeply-graphic.netlify.app/

Oct 7, 2026

Design careers come with a LOT of questions, and most of the answers aren’t taught in school. In this episode, I’m tackling the questions designers ask me most about portfolios, getting hired, workplace dynamics, confidence, career growth, and everything in between. Straight answers, real experience, and advice you can actually use. Our Website

Sep 28, 2026

What if the thing keeping your prices low isn’t your client, it’s you? In this episode, Nick breaks down why creatives so often undercharge, how pricing shapes the way clients perceive your value, and why your rates should evolve as your experience does. From raising prices with new clients to navigating those awkward conversations with longtime ones, this is a practical push to stop negotiating against yourself, get more comfortable saying the bigger number, and finally let your pricing catch up with the designer you’ve become. To listen to our “Double Your Rates” episode, click below: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/deeplygraphic/episodes/TEST-PILOTS--Double-Your-Rates--DGDC-el0qua/a-a3hf631

Sep 7, 2026

Ever wonder why some creatives always seem to be in the right place at the right time? In this episode, Nick explores how to get luckier by increasing your surface area for opportunity, putting yourself in the room, saying yes before you feel ready, creating your own opportunities, and giving those lucky breaks more places to land.

Aug 31, 2026

At some point in your creative career, getting better at design stops being the whole answer. In this episode, Nick explores how to uncover your X-Factor, the skills, experience, personality, and strengths beyond design that make you uniquely valuable, memorable, and harder to overlook. If you’re a mid-career designer wondering what it takes to get unstuck and reach that next level, this one’s for you.

See all episodes →