Christmas gift guide 2022
It’s time once again for our annual gift guide – featuring local artists in addition to some selections from the Birmingham Design Shop.
Hey folks,
We’re back again with a festive gift guide to help you pick that perfect ‘something’ for the designer in your life. As always we’re featuring a selection of local artists and makers to help you fill those stockings at Christmas.
As an added bonus this year, we’re including items from our new shop! We’re stoked to be able to help supply creative Brummies with a plethora of gifts, cards and wrap and help make sure you’re not making an embarrassing dash to the supermarket on Xmas eve.
Team BD x
Benny’s Babbies Poster – King Kong vs Mechanical Bull
Cold War Steve
Created by local artist & mischief maker Christopher Spencer (aka Cold War Steve), Benny’s Babbies celebrates Birmingham and its people.
Spot comedian Joe Lycett, Black Sabbath, Moeen Ali and many more famous and recognisable faces. Check out the updated edition featuring the stars of the summer, the Bull and Kong.
Winter Bronze Hot Chocolate Mug Gift Set
KT Robbins Ceramics
Local ceramicist Katie Robbins makes a several lovely pieces to brighten your home. For the winter months we’ve picked out this lovely hot chocolate set which works great as a gift or a treat for yourself.
Birmingham Screwdriver Company Tee
Foka Wolf X BRUMBOX
ICYMI, our friends at Provide have launched their new sister company BRUMBOX – purveyors of merch that makes you proud to be Brummie. Coming soon is a range of Foka Wolf designed, Birmingham Screwdriver Company products.
You’ve probably seen the giant mural when walking the streets of Digbeth, or when taking the train out of Moor Street. And yes, everyone knows it’s a hammer.
All Together Brum Tote Bag & Love Pin Badge
Action For Refugees
Action for Refugees is a network of local community groups who are committed to supporting refugees and asylum seekers. These lovely folks are based in Kings Heath and make some very nice products, including this pin badge designed by local artist Si Peplow and tie dye tote bag – with all profits going to local charities supporting refugees in Birmingham.
Collage collection cushion
Lucky Pablo
BDF pals Jane and Ally make a range of lovely prints and printed decor – we love the Collage collection cushion – handmade in their studio in the Jewellery Quarter.
Town Tapestry Stitch Kit
Tina Francis
Local legend Tina Francis knows so much about stitching she’s written a book about it. She does a variety of stitch kits and we love this colourful 3D lettering – packed with everything you need to stitch it yourself.
JINGLE BABS Glitter tee
Punks & Chancers
Get in the festive spirit, Bab. A glittery t-shirt with seasonal messaging from Punks & Chancers.
Cats, cats and festive cats
Nat Ellis Illustration
BDF volunteer Nat Ellis produces a range of colourful, animal related products – including these lovely pin badges. Head on over to her website for a whole host of animal fun.
Retro Christmas Decorations & Felt Decor
Hayley Victory
Hayley creates banners and hanging decorations from felt and yarn, her online store is a colourful playground of fun things to hang in your home.
She has plenty of Christmas decorations to choose from, including these retro baubles that we love.
Come and visit us at the Birmingham Design Shop
This year we have our very own shop to help supply you with treats and gifts for Christmas this year. You can order online for delivery or collection from our new retail space right in the heart of the Jewellery Quarter. We’re open Monday–Friday from 9am–5pm, with some special late-night and weekend openings in the build up to Christmas.
We have a whole section of gift ideas on our online store, but here’s some special picks for this list.
Battle of the Badges – Raging Bull vs Kong
I Choose Birmingham & Birmingham Design
Celebrate the summer with our Raging Bull and Kong pin badges, made in collaboration with I Choose Birmingham. This autumn’s hot property, we’ve sold nearly 600 of these pin badges to date! The perfect stocking filler, available individually or as a combo of the two.
2022 Advent Calendar
Mr Bingo
Treat yourself in December by removing a different humans clothes each day. Every year Mr Bingo invites folks from around the country to pose naked for the advent calendar, with hundreds of applications from willing nudies.
Each person is numbered 1-25 and their clothes are printed with removable opaque gold ink to scratch off through December.
2023 Year Planner
Crispin Finn
Plan your 2023 with Crispin Finn’s trademark red, white and blue fold out year planner. Practical, useful and easy on the eye.
Tove Jansson (The Illustrators)
Thames & Hudson
Relive the laughter and the living with this compendium of Tove Jansson illustrations and history, featuring The Moomins, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and JRR Tolkiens The Hobbit.
Designing Graphic Props for Filmmaking
Annie Atkins
Grand Budapest hotel is one of our favourites and we were delighted when we discovered Annie Atkins was releasing a book full of her work and collected ephemera.
Peak behind the curtain and discover what it takes to add life and authenticity to film and TV.
The Sky
Hélène Druvert, Juliette Einhorn
This one has to be seen to be appreciated. A beautiful book full of gorgeous illustrations and embellished with a series of intricate, die-cut pages.
DDC Crew Socks
Aaron Draplin
Draplin fans this one’s for you. Get your hands (feet) on a pair of original DDC crew socks, all the way from the man in Portland. Bright, light, durable and ultra comfy.
Harris Tweed Pencil Cases – Multiple Colours
Amy Britton
Colourful pencil cases made in Scotland, what more can you say? Available in 5 different colours, slim and easy to pop in your bag.
Drippy Pots
Brian Giniewski
Hand made in Philadelphia, the colourful glazes of the Drippy Pots cascade down the kiln fired vessels leaving a childlike sense of joy. We stock two different sizes and they make for a totally unique gift.
BDF scarf
From us!
Shameless plug alert! Winter can be dreary and grey so give it a much needed dose of colour and brighten up your, um, neck. Tight knit scarves made from 90% acrylic & 10% lycra, featuring a colourful BDF carriers design.
Birmingham Design Shop Gift Card
If none of the above ticks the box and you’re still struggling to think what to get your design enthusiast buddy/loved one give them ‘the gift of choice’. We sell digital and physical gift cards that can be redeemed online or in-person and go great with our selection of illustrated cards.
Cards & Wrap
Found the perfect gift? We’ve got a whole host of Christmas cards and wrap to accompany it.
Wrap is available in three-packs on the website or single-sheet from the store.