Trying to find the perfect holiday gift for that designer or developer in your family? Unless you are a designer or developer as well, you probably have no idea what to get them. Don’t waste your money on buying crappy stuff that looks cool, check out this list of 50 awesome gifts that creative types are sure to love. All of which are under $50 bucks!

10 Design Books under $50

Caffeine for the Creative Mind – link – $11.55

250 Exercises to Wake Up Your Brain! This book is full of 15-minute simple and conceptual exercises that will help any designer to relax and get their mind going.

GAG Handbook: Pricing and Ethical Guidelines – link – $23.10

Produced by the “Graphic Artist’s Guild” this book is absolutely invaluable for anyone in a creative industry, especially if you freelance. Everything you need to know about rates, fees, client relations, contracts, and more to do business legally and professionally.

Designer’s Complete Index – link – $37.79

This box set contains all three of Jim Krause’s best selling “Index” books including Idea Index, Layout Index, and Color Index. These are not only great tools while you’re working but great sources of inspiration while you’re brainstorming.

The Zen of CSS – link – $29.69

Based on the very popular CSS Zen Garden website this book contains extensive dialogue and examples of how to create standards-compliant, yet beautiful CSS-based websites.

Rules of the Red Rubber Ball – link – $10.17

Written by motivational speaker Kevin Carroll, this book uses the metaphor of a red rubber ball to talk about how to “Find and Sustain Your Life’s Work.” An excellent book to help you think more about what kind of work you’re truly passionate about and how to spend your life working toward that.

Whatever You Think Think the Opposite - link – $11.16

In this book advertising guru and bestselling author Paul Arden challenges the reader to “Think the Opposite”. It’s a motivational and creative challenge to get out there, live your own life and no longer conform to the world’s standards.

79 Short Essays on Design – link – $16.47

This is a collection of writings from designer Michael Beirut. Ranging from serious to humorous to completely outlandish Beirut tackles every topic from the paper clip to the planet Saturn. A great read from Beirut who “is widely considered the finest observer on design writing today.”

Art & Sole – link – $19.77

Art & Sole is a fascinating book about the world of the modern sneaker. This book explores everything from limited editions to the most creative. It’s a commentary on how the world of sneakers has come to collide with the world of art.

The Design Entrepreneur – link – $26.40

This book stems from some of the great success that has come out of the School of Visual Arts. Addressing such models as the latest prescription drug packaging that has been adopted by Target this book focuses on bridging the gap between design and the marketplace.

Sizes May Vary – link – $14.97

This book is a one of kind reference book, sketchbook, and notebook all combined. Over 200 pages of the most common layouts including letterhead, CD, and envelope layouts can be used for sketching in comps. The reference section contains a vast amount of essential information and the notebook section can be used to let your creativity run free.

10 Hardware/Accessory Gifts under $50

5inch Custom CD-Rs – link – $49.50/50 CD-Rs

Designer CD-R’s are a huge improvement over plain blank discs. Perfect for file delivery to a client. Select from one of the many preprinted options or upload your own artwork.

Mimobot USB Flash Drive - link – 1GB $39.95

It’s always handy to have a flash drive with you. So if you’re going to carry one anyways, why not have it be Boba Fett!

Laptop Cooling Hub – link – $49.99

This laptop cooling pad also contains 4 USB 2.0 ports. So while you’re sitting on the couch “working” you can keep your laptop cool and have all your accessories plugged in.

MacBook Pro Hard Shell Case by Incase – link – $49.95

A great case to protect your laptop while still being able to use it. With access to all your laptops features, thermal vents, raised rubber feet, this case is even available in 5 different colors.

Cable Wrap – link – $12.50

No one likes uneccesary cables draped all over their desk. So here’s a great way to keep them all wrapped up!

Logitech V450 Nano Cordless Laser Mouse – link – $49.99

If you spend a lot of time working on a laptop while you’re on the road you know that a good mobile mouse can make all the difference. This Nano Mouse from Logitech features a laser precise optical unit, 2.4GHZ wireless connection, 12 months of battery life, and a receiver unit about the size of a nickel. I like the RED one!

V-MODA Bass Freq Earbuds – link – $28.99

When it comes to buying headphones there isn’t a lack of options out there. But for less than $50 these V-MODA Bass Freq Earbuds are the way to go. They’re well designed, have good sound quality and are a great value.

Logitech X-240 2.1 Speakers – link – $37.74

This great speaker system features 2 speakers plus a downward firing subwoofer. More than just a computer speaker system it comes with a docking cradle to connect your iPod, Zune, PDA, or mobile phone.

iPod Shuffle 1GB – link – $49.00

Sure everybody has an iPod already, right? But what the heck for $50 who couldn’t use one of these uber-convenient little iPod Shuffles. If nothing else it could double as a colorful 1GB flash drive.

Canon Pixma iP2600 Photo Inkjet Printer – link – $49.00

This inexpensive, compact inkjet printer can print photos with a max resolution of 4800 x 1200 dpi. How often do you get that much quality for less than $50?

10 Software Gifts under $50

Flickr Pro Subscription – link – $24.95/year

On Flickr Pro you get unlimited uploads and storage of images and video. Whether you use it for personal images or to present projects to your client it’s a great tool for any designer.

Basecamp Subscription – link – $24/month

This is a great way to help someone get started managing all their projects and clients. You can’t pay for it forever but you could help them out with a month or two.

Vector Magic – link – $48.60/20 tokens

If you know a designer that uses Vector Magic to do some of their auto-tracing or know someone who should start using Vector Magic buying them some tokens would be a great gift. Easy to use interface and great results make this a great tool!

Mozy Backup – link – $4.95/month

Designer’s have to handle a ton of files. And what would be worse than walking in to your office on Monday and realizing that your hard drive had crashed and that latest project you were just about done with is gone? With Mozy Backup you can get Unlimited backup of your computer for only $4.95/month. You can pick which files you want to back up and even schedule automatic recurring backups.

iStockPhoto Credits – link – $35/26 credits

iStockPhoto is an excellent source for quick, simple stock photography. Stock isn’t always the best solution but sometimes you need that specific image, you need it now, and you need it cheap. Any designer would love to have a couple extra iStock credits tucked away for just such an occasion.l

Freshbooks Subscription – link – Plan Prices Vary

Freshbooks would be an especially great gift for someone who’s just trying to get their own design business off the ground. Freshbooks is a great app that combines time tracking, expense and profit reporting, and full estimating and invoicing.

Litmus Day Pass – link – $24/day pass

Litmus is a great tool to confirm cross-platform compatibility for any website or email newsletter. Litmus covers an extremely wide variety of browsers and apps and is completely web based so there is nothing to install on your machine.

Sid Meier’s Civilization IV – link – $44.95

Let’s face it, we all need a break from work sometimes. The fourth installment in Sid Meier’s Civilization series nothing helps take your mind off your work like a little world domination!

Big Bang Brain Games – link – $29.99

Relax, take your mind off your work, and keep your mind sharp all at the same time. Big Bang Brain Games contains six classic games that are designed to challenge your mind.

SPORE by Electronic Arts – link – $43.99

From the creators of The Sims, this game lets you create your own unique creature and then guide it through an entire universe that you develop. From the beginning to colonization, domination, and exploration of space you control the action.

10 Designer Apparel Gifts under $50

Veer T-Shirt – link – $22

Veer has a great selection of shirts in their web store. The “I Draw Pictures All Day.” Tee is my favorite.

Hel F’n Vetica Shirt – link – $25

For the designer out there who feels really passionate about Helvetica here’s the shirt to express it.

Ratio M Tee – link – $36

Everybody wants to feel balanced. And what’s more balanced than the Golden Rectangle?

Pixel Tools Tee – link – $19

The tools of the trade featured on your very own Pixel Tools T-Shirt!

Creatives Understand Hat – link – $29

Another great product from Veer. This hat expresses how we all feel that only another creative can really understand us.

San-Serif Type Tee – link – $19.99

Are you totally dedicated to san-serif typefaces? Well, so is this t-shirt. Featuring Gotham Black, Helvetica, Futura, and more.

The Sound of Color! - link – $18

Do you get frustrated when your friends don’t understand color the way you do? Maybe this great Threadless shirt will help them sound it all out.

Never Take Your Abilities for Granted – link – $12

Another commentary on color from “Threadless”.

Designer “Word” – link – $20

We’ve all heard this one before. Word the design program that should NEVER be used to design anything!

Design is Honest. – link – $28

We all think that our industry is the only “real” creative industry. This shirt just puts those feelings into words.

10 Other Gifts under $50

Commands Set of Prints – link – $12

A great set of 3 prints, perfect to hang around the office.

Helvetica The DVD – link – $20

Again, for the serious Helvetica lover comes Helvetica the movie. A full 80-minute feature film that’s all about one of the most commonly used typefaces in history.

Color and Crap Mug – link – $13.99

A witty coffee mug is always good for a laugh around the office. Especially if you work with a lot of “business” types!

Unmentionables – link – $5.95

Everything that you’ve ever wanted to say but never really had the guts. Let these little monsters from unmentionables do it for you.

Sketchbook – Varies

Everybody likes a different flavor sketchbook so here’s a few different options to choose from. Moleskine notebooks are all the rage for some folks, but a bit much for others. The Book Journals are very unique with their old book covers. And if you want a serious sketchbook why not try out a All-Weather Notebook from “Rite in the Rain”.

On Off Mug – link – $25.00

Impress your coworkers with this nifty mug. When it’s empty the mug is black and says “off” but when you fill it with the hot beverage of your choice it turns white and says “on”. Not real functional but fun all the same!

Magazine Subscription - Varies

Whether you work in house or run your own studio it’s important to stay up on trends not only in your industry, but other areas of design, and business in general. Magazines are a great way to stay up to date on what’s happening “out in the world.” Here are a few of my favorites.

Inc. – Wired – Communication Arts – Fast Company

Kangaroom Bamboo Charging Station – link – $45.00

Here’s a great solution for charging all of your “gadgets” without feeling like you have cords running all over your desk. Made with bamboo this 3-pod charging station is great sitting on a desk or mounted to the wall.

Starbucks Gift Card – link – $50

Let’s face it we could all use the caffeine. Besides how often do we end up working at the Starbucks or meeting a client down there.

Cash – $50

Nothing says “I appreciate you!” like cold hard cash. And we could all do with a little more. So if none of these other gifts fit the bill you can always stick to cash.