Design Better – 2025 Holiday Gift Guide
Podcast: Design Better
Hosts: Eli Woolery (B) & Aarron Walter (A)
Air Date: December 4, 2025
Theme: The annual Design Better Holiday Gift Guide – a curated rundown of creative, design-inspired, and thoughtful gifts (from affordable stocking stuffers to dream purchases and unique experiences), plus insights on gift-giving, creativity, and the joy of repair.
Episode Overview
Eli Woolery and Aarron Walter share and discuss their favorite discoveries and ideas for holiday gifts, focusing on design, creativity, experiences, and sustainability. The episode touches on personal anecdotes, expert guest recommendations from the past year, and hands-on advice for gifting thoughtfully – for loved ones, colleagues, or yourself.
Key Discussion Points & Gift Suggestions (with Timestamps)
1. Why Holiday Gift Guides Matter
00:02 – 01:25
- Eli and Aarron reminisce about a year of podcasting: “This is my favorite episode every year...an opportunity to look back at things that make our lives better, more creative.” (A, 00:18)
- Gifts aren’t just for others—many of these inspire the hosts to indulge their own creativity and curiosity.
2. Affordable & Thoughtful Gifts
Books (01:25 – 05:05)
- Replay by Jordan Mechner: Graphic novel memoir by the Prince of Persia creator—rich, multi-generational story & beautiful illustrations. (B, 01:25)
- Lexicon of Comicana by Mort Walker: An illustrated guide to the “language” of visual cues in comics, recommended by guest Jason Chatfield.
- “The cursing are groxley, the tongue in concentration is protolisation.” (B, 05:05)
- Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud: “A staple...I still love understanding comics.” (A, 05:05)
Culinary Gifts (02:12 – 07:16)
- Burlap & Barrel Spices: Ethically sourced, high-quality spices (mint, royal cinnamon, vanilla kits, smoked paprika; $6–$7 and up).
- “Their cinnamon is incredible. By far the best.” (A, 02:36)
- Rancho Gordo Beans & Sauces: Heirloom beans, specialty sauces (La Paloma Mild Sauce)—great for home cooks and foodies, frequent use and “surprise” gifting anecdote.
- “It is wonderful...I would put it on cereal.” (A, 06:31)
Stationery & Design Tools (12:02 – 14:27)
- Ohto Mechanical Pencil (Wood Sharp): A mechanical pencil that looks and feels like a classic wood pencil—beloved by Aarron for its balance of function and nostalgia.
- “It’s all the joy of a no. 2 pencil with a mechanical pencil tip...my favorite pencil.” (A, 13:18)
- Field Notes Notebooks: Designed by Aaron Draplin, co-founder—bright colors, Americana feel, great as posts for designers, paired with collectible hats, patches, and stickers.
- “All of it has a feeling of familiar Americana...a sense of humor in everything he does.” (A, 08:14)
- Eames Playing Cards & ‘Hang-It-All’: Modern art-inspired playing cards and classic coat hooks for designer homes. (A, 09:03–12:00)
3. Gifts at Higher Price Points & For Specialized Interests
Wallets & Personal Accessories (13:37 – 14:52)
- James Brand ‘Low’ Wallet: Minimal, metal design inspired by vintage cigarette cases (~$100+).
- “It just does, like, the essential stuff...can't ever go back to the fat billfold.” (A, 14:27)
Music & Creativity Tech (14:54 – 17:56)
- Teenage Engineering Pocket Operators: Playful, affordable ($60) synthesizers for budding or pro music makers.
- “Super fun...something they would never ask for, but it will encourage their creative exploration.” (A, 15:36)
- Teenage Engineering TP7 Field Recorder: Premium design-led audio recorder ($1500).
- “Something I don’t need, but I sure wish I did.” (A, 17:28)
Home, Design, and Workspace Upgrades (18:18 – 19:48)
- Bosch Laser Level: Practical home/project tool for the DIYer ($50).
- “Just makes hanging stuff super easy.” (B, 18:19)
- Icpal Shortcut Keyboards: Specialized shortcut keyboards for creative software like Photoshop, Premiere, Lightroom ($120).
- “A great little tool that can make things faster.” (A, 19:48)
4. Experiences Over Things
Unique Experience Gifts (19:53 – 24:28)
- iFly Indoor Skydiving: Indoor skydiving sessions for memorable group experiences, suitable for the whole family.
- “Our whole family did it...almost like you're skydiving, but it's super safe.” (B, 20:17)
- Magic Patio – San Francisco: Intimate, hidden magic venue by Andrew Evans—a cultural and immersive event for family or groups. (B, 23:43)
- Vacation With an Artist: Learn from master artisans—like a quilt-making retreat in Gee’s Bend, Alabama, for a deeply creative, cultural learning journey.
- “There’s nothing like giving the gift of learning.” (A, 36:14)
- Travel Watercolor Kits (38:19): Compact, well-designed watercolor kits for on-the-go creativity.
5. Specialty Brands & Meaningful Retail
Imogene + Willie (21:57 – 23:43)
- Story-rich, American-made T-shirts and jeans—thoughtful design, sustainable sourcing, and a classic broken-in feel.
- “These feel like that broken in vintage style T shirt...they don’t wrinkle up or roll. They’re really great.” (A, 22:07)
- Billy Reid x Gibson: Apparel inspired by music iconography and instrument design.
- Kimo Sabe (31:31 – 34:16): Store in Taos, New Mexico; curates authentic Native American jewelry and artifacts—items that feel “transgenerational.”
- “Kimo Sabe is full of things...that you would pass on to the next generation.” (A, 32:37)
6. Repair As a Gift
28:02 – 30:34
- Suggest repairing loved, broken items as a meaningful, sustainable gift (ex: tailoring jeans, restoring heirlooms, Kintsugi).
- “Repairing something for someone you love...that's a really high impact gift.” (A, 28:02)
- “I found that once I got those things back, I love them even more than I did before.” (A, 29:52)
7. Wellness & Mood-Boosting Tech
30:34 – 31:31
- Student-created lamp for combating seasonal affective disorder—clinical benefits, thoughtful industrial design. (B, 30:34)
- “If this is something that you suffer from in winter, could really help you out.” (B, 31:19)
8. For Kids & Families
Gaming & Social Play (34:16 – 35:54)
- Nintendo Switch 2: Latest release—praised for social, co-play features and long-standing design principles.
- “Their design’s always very thoughtful and, yeah, just a lot of fun.” (B, 34:40)
- “It’s always social, it’s always communal...a very cool thing.” (A, 35:19)
9. Designer Rugs & Home Accessories
Area Rugs (26:45 – 27:58)
- All Modern rugs and Jonathan Adler x Ruggable: Vibrant, machine-washable, and contemporary rugs—easy to maintain and add warmth to living/working spaces.
10. Gifting Music & Instruments
Playing & Learning Music (39:17 – 43:09)
- Nash Guitars T52: Vintage-inspired, custom-built guitars—a creative investment that supports music learning and brain health.
- “There’s nothing like having a cool instrument...connects you with other people who are musicians as well, or aspiring musicians.” (A, 41:39)
- “When you play music, you can't...all you can think about is right now. I find that invaluable.” (A, 43:09)
Notable Quotes
- “This is my favorite episode every year…an opportunity to look back at things that make our lives better, more creative.” (A, 00:18)
- “It is wonderful...I would put it on cereal.” (A, on Rancho Gordo sauce, 06:31)
- “All of it has a feeling of familiar Americana...a sense of humor in everything he does.” (A, on Aaron Draplin merch, 08:14)
- “Repairing something for someone you love...that's a really high impact gift. It’s a surprise. They won’t be expecting it, and it’s something they’ll never forget.” (A, 28:02)
- “There’s nothing like giving the gift of learning.” (A, on creative vacations, 36:14)
- “When you play music, you can't…all you can think about is right now. I find that invaluable.” (A, 43:09)
Memorable Moments
- Both Aarron and his wife accidentally gifting each other the same Rancho Gordo hot sauce—reflecting the joy of shared enthusiasms. (A, 06:44)
- Stories of visiting the Eames Institute, interviewing creative icons, and the joy of classic games after meals.
- Emphasis on experiences, repair, and sustainability as meaningful alternatives to material gifts.
Additional Highlights
- Designer Stationery from Japan: Ohto Mechanical Pencil (A, 12:02)
- Upgrading the Office: Rugs, laser levels, and the pursuit of aesthetic and functional home workspaces.
- Historical & Transgenerational Gifts: Native jewelry, classic music instruments, and family heirlooms.
Summary Takeaways
- The Guide balances unique objects, contemporary design, hands-on experiences, and sustainability.
- Experiences, repair, and learning were as highly recommended as physical gifts.
- Focus on gifting thoughtfully, with quality and meaning over quantity.
- Musical creativity and artistic experimentation (in both gifts and experiences) were recurring themes.
- For design-minded listeners: there’s inspiration here for every taste, interest, and budget.
For links, additional resources, and past episodes referenced, visit Design Better Podcast