10 Gift Ideas for Product Managers and Designers

2023 Edition

The holiday season is upon us once again (I know, I’m struggling to believe it too). But that means egg nog, sugar cookies, and giving gifts.

You may find yourself looking for ideas for holiday gifts for those special people in your life. Or struggling with ideas for your own gift list, as I do every year. And if you or anyone you know is a product manager or a designer, we’ve got you covered.

We’ve been doing this gift guide for a few years now, and it’s one of my favorite posts each year. Like our Holiday Gift Guide from 2020, 2021, or 2022, we’ve gathered some of our favorite gift ideas for this year.

Once again, I’ve arranged the list starting with some affordable options and then moving into price-is-no-barrier. So you have your pick of all types of gifts.

Let’s hit it.

Affordable

Wired Subscription - $5

This is one of my favorite magazines. I have an annual subscription and use it all the time. Most of us in technology will reference these sites frequently, so the gift of this type of content will always be appreciated.

Pick Your Poison - $13

Looking for a fun game for casual gatherings? This is a good one. I’ve used it to break the ice for team meetings, workshops, or dinners. So it is great to use as a game or for a few minutes to get things going before a meeting, which anyone will appreciate.

Swiss Army Tool - $19

If you’re in technology, you most likely feel like a Swiss Army Knife most of the time—always doing everything. But there is a reason these tools are some of the best in the world. They are useful and can do just about anything. I carry one almost everywhere and would never be upset getting another one.

Moderate

Stanley Tumbler - $45

Everyone can use a good tumbler. And even if you already have one, there are so many color options that having another one will be a welcome addition for most of us. And you can’t argue with the quality. Apparently, they withstand car fires.

@stanleybrand#stitch with @Danielle Stanley has your back ❤️

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Hanks Cancer Socks - $49

Hopefully you’re still working remotely for some time, so you are able to hang out in socks and sweats. So get some comfy socks and support access to cancer treatment. Every one of these socks was thoughtfully designed to be both very chill and very fun. They are high quality, comfy, cozy socks with knitted-in (not printed) designs. Also, 100% of the profit is going to help people get access to cancer treatment.

A Pattern Language - $50

I’ve recently become obsessed with the idea of good design for places we live, especially cities. This book discusses that. A nice hard copy book that is about good design, which anyone in product management or UX will appreciate, along with ways to apply the principles to many areas of work and life.

Expensive

Kindle - $139

I’m not sure my favorite way to read books. I like physical copies and have shelves of them. I like audiobooks and have a ton. I also like Kindle books to highlight them. I don’t think you can go wrong being able to carry hundreds of books around with you, so having a Kindle is never a bad option, no matter who you are.

Snack Box - $190+

Whether it’s between meetings or after hours, it’s fun to have some new snacks to grab on the go. A snack box subscription ensures new snacks throughout the year, which is a great option.

Lego Typewriter - $250

I can’t make lists without Lego. We built this typewriter last year and it has been part of my office since then (as you might notice in some of my videos). It is a fun one to build and to play with.

Tissot PRX - $350+

I’ve had this watch for most of this year, and love it. If you want to pull out all the stops and get someone a gift they’ll love, can keep for a long time because the technology won’t get outdated, and will look great with anything (sorry smartwatches, you don’t belong in most photos), then this is it.

It also comes in 35mm for smaller wrists or 40mm for larger wrists. As well as automatic movements for those of us who love automatic, or quartz for those who don’t want to wind their watches.

@kylelarryevanssurprise watch came today #tissotprx #watches #watchesoftiktok

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So there you have our latest list. 10 ideas to help you get a gift for that product manager, designer, or technology enthusiast in your life. Hope you have a good holiday season, and feel free to send any of the items on this list my way.

This post may contain a few affiliate links that add no additional cost to you, but may earn me a small commission if you purchase them (though Amazon will get most of your money).