Things I like and use

This started as a list of my favourite design books that I wanted to share, but I realised a broader list might also make a good gift guide for those interested in design.

I hate the laziness inherent in poorly designed or subpar products, so everything here earns its place by being well-made, useful, and built to last. They’re not always the least expensive option, but I’d rather buy one good tool than two cheap ones.

Books

Cover of the book Don't Make Me Think, Revisited: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability

Don't Make Me Think, Revisited: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability
Steve Krug

Cover of the book A Smile in the Mind: Witty Thinking in Graphic Design

A Smile in the Mind: Witty Thinking in Graphic Design
Beryl McAlhone and David Stuart

Cover of the book Mr Beck's Underground Map

Mr Beck's Underground Map
Ken Garland

Cover of the book Forget All the Rules You Ever Learned About Graphic Design

Forget All the Rules You Ever Learned About Graphic Design
Bob Gill

Cover of the book How to use graphic design to sell things, explain things, make things look better, make people laugh, make people cry, and (every once in a while) change the world

How to use graphic design to sell things...
Michael Bierut

Cover of the book How to be a graphic designer, without losing your soul

How to be a graphic designer, without losing your soul
Adrian Shaughnessy

Thinking with Type
Ellen Lupton

Cover of the book Design is Storytelling

Design is Storytelling
Ellen Lupton

Cover of the book Typeset in the Future: Typography and Design in Science Fiction Movies

Typeset in the Future: Typography and Design in Science Fiction Movies
Dave Addy

Caffeine

Image of a Melitta 6707231 Aroma Boy coffee maker

Melitta Aroma Boy
Filter Coffee Machine, Beige

AeroPress Original
Espresso-style Coffee Maker

A pack of Square Mile Red Brick coffee beans

Square Mile Red Brick
Excellent coffee beans

KeepCup
The original reusable coffee cup

Jamkes Hoffam standing behind a desk talking about coffe in a mocka pot

James Hoffman on YouTube
The coffee nerd's coffee nerd

On my desk

A stainless steel Klean Kanteen water bottle

Klean Kanteen water bottle
Stainless Steel and indestructible

Apple AirPods Pro 3
Still the best earbud headphones

A Leuchtturm notebook with a sky blue cover

Leuchtturm notebooks
Better than Moleskines

Blackwing pencils
Such a pleasure to use

A small brass, bullet-shaped pencil sharpener

Mobius and Ruppert Brass Pencil Sharpener
Mine is older than my children

M90 Micro Blaster
Perfect for teeny tiny breakdancers

In the kitchen

Hackman/Iittala stainless steel pans
Stainless Steel and indestructible

Fiskars scissors
21cm: perfect for kitchen duties

Global G2 cook's knife
The only knife you'll need

Cuisipro locking tongs
Good tongs make a difference

A steel dough scraper with a plastic handle

Dough scraper
Great for clearing up

A packet of Aji-No-Moto monosodium glutamate

MSG
If you know, you know

Everyday things

Victorinox Swiss Card
Very handy and fits in the little pocket on your jeans

Leatherman Micra
Also very handy and also fits in the little pocket on your jeans

Secrid Wallet and card holder
Compact and well made RFID wallet

Casio G-Shock 'Square'
Modern version of the original G-Shock

Blundstones
Standard issue graphic designer footwear

Some of the links on this page are Amazon affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase through them. Where possible, I’ve linked to the original products, rather than the copies found in the sponsored search results.

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