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30 Best Holiday Gifts for the Web Designer or Developer in Your Life

Posted on 14. Dec, 2009 by bmackler in Resources

Whether it is your spouse, friend, co worker, family member or your significant other it can be very difficult to find the right holiday gift for a web designer or developer.  Below I have compiled a list of the 30 best gifts for this holiday season.  Some are fun, a few are extravagant but most are practical and all would surely be great gifts for the designer or developer in your life.

Subscriptions

WebAssist Extensions Library Subscription
Cost : $199/Year

WebAssist Extension Library was formed because our customers usually require more than one Dreamweaver extension to achieve success. With the WebAssist Extension Library you receive access to all WebAssist Dreamweaver extensions and other Premium Content so you have all the tools you may require to build virtually any website you can imagine

Envato Tuts + Network of Sites Subscription
Cost – $9/Month

Its essential for designers to continue learning and growing to ensure they stay at the top of their game.  With this subscription you get access to a well known members site complete with hundreds of source files from high end specialized tutorials, as well as regular bonus downloads of vector and brush packs, layer styles, tools and more.

How Magazine
Cost – 1 years (6 issues) for $29.96

Bi Monthly design inspiration and tips for Graphic Design professionals.  An industry standard

Layers Magazine
Cost – 2 Years for $49.95

Influential and important magazine that focuses on tutorials for Adobe Creative Suite

Subscription to Safari Online Books
Cost – Unlimited Access  – $42.99/month

No need to clutter your office with so many resources, you can get most of them online  – books, videos, and tutorials from O’Reilly, Peachpit, Prentice Hall, Microsoft Press, Apress  and others

Books

Designing with Web Standards (3rd Edition) By Jeffrey Zeldman
Cost: $31.49

Standards, argues Jeffrey Zeldman in Designing With Web Standards, are our only hope for breaking out of the endless cycle of testing that plagues designers hoping to support all possible clients.  Zeldman’s approach is detailed, authoritative, and rich with historical context, as he is quick to explain how features of standards evolved. It’s a fantastic education that any design professional will appreciate.

Handcrafted CSS: More Bulletproof Web Design, Video Edition by Dan Cederholm
Cost:$34.64

The theme that is running through Handcrafted CSS: More Bulletproof Web Design, is “There’s a real connection between craftsmanship and Web design”  This book explores CSS3 that works in today’s browsers, and after reading this you’ll be convinced that now’s the time to start experimenting with it.

Whether you’re a Web designer, project manager, or a graphic designer wanting to learn more about the fluidity that’s required when designing for the Web, you’ll discover the tools to create the most flexible, reliable, and bulletproof Web designs.

The Web Designer’s Idea Book: The Ultimate Guide To Themes, Trends & Styles In Website Design
Cost- $16.50

The Web Designer’s Idea Book includes more than 700 websites arranged thematically, so you can find inspiration for layout, color, style and more. Author Patrick McNeil has cataloged more than 20,000 sites on his website, and showcased in this book are the very best examples.

The Smashing Book
Cost – $29.90

This is a must have.  In this  just released book you will find all of the best practices in modern Web design. The book shares technical tips and best practices on coding, usability and optimization and explores how to create successful user interfaces and apply marketing principles to increase conversion rates. Get the most out of typography, color and branding so that you end up with intuitive and effective Web designs.  Vital for designers and developers alike.

Gadgets and Apps

Motorola Droid
Cost – $300

Is it the IPhone killer that many were hoping for?  Perhaps, only time will tell…what we do know is that this is a great smart phone that has been named gadget of the year by countless of users and magazines.  No, its not shiny or over the top hip but it is packed with features on reliable a solid 3G network.   For those that always need to be in touch and connected this could be the gift of the season.

Textmate Editor for Mac
Cost – $59

The definitive editor for the Mac.  TextMate brings Apple’s approach to operating systems into the world of text editors.  This quick and light editor supporting languages such as HTML, CSS, and PHP.  The perfect app for both expert scripters and beginners.

Hitachi SimpleTough Hard Drive
Cost – $100-$135

You need a portable hard drive that you can take anywhere. When you have the Hitachi SimpleTough Hard Drive you simply grab your data and go. Build with a rugged body, rubber sides and a smooth rubber body, the SimpleTough can withstand drops of up to 7 feet and also offers underside lighting and an integrated USB cable.

Espresso Web Dev App for Mac
Cost – $87

Described as a fast and powerful editor that includes live preview, awesome publishing and extensive synchronization tools.  This is the app that web developers on the Mac have been looking for.

Ultra Edit Studio
Cost – $79.95

For those developers on a PC who won’t use a WYSISYG editor UE Studio is the way to go.  Besides being a powerful HTML editor it also has integrated tools for building applications and maintaining databases.

Corsair Flash Voyager USB 2.0
Cost – Starting at $39.99

For the designer and developer on the go.  This high capacity USB drive is ideal for transporting large files, apps, digital photos or Presentations in a safe and secure manner.  No one should be without.

Imation Pro WX Wireless USB Hard Drive
Cost – $450

Being the “world’s first” often means two things: a potentially small target market, and a high price tag. Data transfer rates of up to 15MBs/second and a range of 30 feet, this 1.5TB drive is ready for the limelight

Dell 30inch Wide Panel Monitor
Cost – $1399

Everything looks better on this monitor.  Probably the closest thing to Apple’s Cinema screen for a fraction of the price. You will be able to multi- and even triple task in all of  your browsers and editors and even Photoshop with this monitor.

USB Drink Chiller and Warmer
Cost – $21.95

For those times that you are just too busy and caught up in your work to leave your computer.  Perfect for those late night projects.

Apple Magic Mouse
Cost – $69

Every tech gift list needs at least one Apple product, and here is ours.  This wireless Mouse uses the very popular multitouch technology to the top of this mouse.  Yes, the top of this wonderful mouse is a touchpad.  You are able to use motions and “gestures” for navigation, zooming, and more.  Only downside is that it doesn’t also work for the PC (outside of a hack).

Logitech MX 1000 – Mouse – Wireless – RF
Cost – $200

A good mouse is essential for the Photoshop pro in your family that needs precision in every move.  Logitech says that the MX1000 delivers a new pinnacle of performance no optical mouse can match.  This laser mouse even works well on difficult to use polished or wood-grain surfaces.

Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave Pro Keyboard and Mouse Package
Cost – $89.95

One of the main sources of pain and injury from computer use is a bad keyboard and mouse.  The Wave Pro from Logitech goes a long way to help you avoid that.  It  has a comfortable keyboard design; rechargeable mouse only available in this package and an impressive list of customizable features.

Mimo Mini USB Monitor
Cost – $129.99 – $229.99

If you need an extra helping of   screen space to get you through the busy workday this may be the solution for you.  Whether you are dealing with client emails, searching for images, coding or need that extra space for all of your open apps this is will really save the day.  Just plug in the USB and you are good to go…no extra power supplies, no plugs.   Comes in 4 versions.

Herman Miller Setu Chairs
Cost – $580

For that programmer or designer in your life that clocks up to 14 hours a day in front of the computer,  there is no easier or better way to stay comfortable than t his Herman Miller Setu Chair.  Flexes with you without the need for adjustment.

Fun Stuff

I Be Au Sm T Shirt
Cost – $18

NES. Xbox 360. Aliens. Robots. USB. Test tubes. Protractors. If it’s geeky, you can bet you’ll find it hidden in the I Be Au Sm T-Shirt. Printed in white on a black American Apparel tee, this ode to geekiness has all sorts of meme-tastic icons and illustrations hidden within its four letter outlines

GUImagnets
Cost – $19.95

Small flexible magnets with GUI form objects on it.  The perfect addition to your whiteboard or fridge.

Photoshop Magnets
Cost – $25

These Photoshop pallete magnets are a great addition to the home of any avid Adobe user

Typography Soap
Cost – $26

This fun and unique gift for the typography nuts you know.  This scented soap has type that extends about a quarter inch (2 mm) out of the core,  making it look like a true 3 dimensional block of typography, simply stunning.

Helvetica Sketch Notebook
Cost – $22

All designers and developers at one stage in their work are generally jotting down notes, sketching out a user interface or doodling on paper.  This two-sided notebook features opposing quotes in Helvetica Std is a great notebook to work out of.

Pixel Tools T-Shirt
Cost – $19.00

Fun and ever so slightly “geeky” T Shirt is a great addition to your Photoshop enthusiasts collection.

Vanishing Photoshop Shirt
Cost – $24.14

Photoshop users will love this shirt and laugh at the inside joke.  This is what would happen if you use the Photoshop eraser tool on yourself

Tags: Resources, web design, web development