20 Must-Have Gift Ideas

no-image, 20 Must-Have Gift Ideas

Porcelain tableware, a skateboard, or maybe a doll house? For those in search of gift ideas for the fast-approaching holiday season, the Łódź Design Festival has prepared a selection of 20 various items – all of which were designed by Poles, and each one proudly bearing the Must Have 2014 title.

Eastern Bloc Cut-out Collection by Zupagrafika

Blok Wschodni (Eastern Bloc), collection of cut-outs, designed by David Navarro and Martyna Sobecka, produced by Zupagrafika, Must Have 2014, photo: Łódź Design Festival 2014

A collection of five cut-out models inspired by the modernist architecture of Warsaw. The collection encompasses flagship examples of the functionalist trend, as well as pre-fabricated concrete apartment blocks from the city suburbs. The series includes technical descriptions of the buildings, and is printed on 100% recycled paper.

The Mix&Match Cosmopolitan Line by Ćmielów and Chodzież SA

Porcelana "Mix&Match Cosmopolitan Line", projekt: Marek Cecuła, producent: Polskie Fabryki Porcelany Ćmielów i Chodzież S.A., Must Have 2014, fot. Łódź Design Festival 2014 — Mix&Match Cosmopolitan Line, designed by Marek Cecuła, produced by Polskie Fabryki Porcelany Ćmielów and Chodzież S.A., Must Have 2014, photo: Łódź Design Festival 2014

The aesthetics of the Cosmopolitan Line is based on strong contrast – clear geometric patterns are intertwined with rich, gold organic motifs. Classic white plates have been decorated with bold graphic illustrations – black, grey and gold, the latter reflecting and catching light. It is a collection which is harmoniously eclectic and gives the owner unlimited possibilities of playing with the combinations. The elements go well together and allow for the creation of different versions in a variety of sets, making up an ever-changing tabletop landscape.

Marek Cecuła's Works – Image Gallery

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Wytwórnik domowy (Home Creator) by Wytwórnia

Wytwórnik Domowy (Home Creator), designed by Agata Królak, published by Wytwórnia, Must Have 2014, photo: Łódź Design Festival 2014

design by: Agata Królak

An artistic sketchbook for children to draw and scribble in. Here, the talent and creativity of the illustrator blends with the unlimited creativity of a child. Wytwórnik domowy (Home Creator) is about the full freedom of playing. It is the user who decides what the fridge will contain, and whether or not s/he will clean the up the table. Perhaps the garden will have pears growing on a willow? Or maybe the house's walls will become covered with paintings that the parents would normally never permit? The large format of the notebook and high-quality paper are all the more inviting to join in the fun.

Selected works by Agata Królak – Image Gallery

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Pora na potwora (Monster Time), by Aleksandra and Daniel Mizielińscy, Dwie Siostry publishing company

Aleksandra and Daniel Mizielińscy, Pora na potwora (Monster Time) book cover, photo: Dwie Siostry

And what if animals swapped heads? Or stomachs, legs, and tails? And what if they even borrowed a piece from a UFO? What would they look like then? What would they be called? In this little puzzle-book each page is divided up into three, and the pages can be infinitely swapped and turned, to make new creatures with strange names. And maybe there will even be a couple of very well-known animals among the beasts?

Lokomotywa (The Locomotive) by Anna Lewandowska, Papierówka publishing company

The Lokomotywa playful notebook, design by Aneta Lewandowska, Papierówka publishing company, Must Have 2014, photo: Łódź Design Festival 2014

Do you want to find out who made the first steam engine, how long the longest train in the world, what the semaphore is for, and what connects trains and … clowns? The Zeszyt do zabaw – Lokomotywa (Locomotive – a playful notebook), teaches young readers about all of this, while engaging them in creatively filling in its pages. The notebook is first in Papierówka's series of three "activebooks", all of which are connected with the theme of travelling. Its humorous, open formula will surely make the long and tiring hours of travelling pass more quickly, and take those who are not moving into unknown spaces – as vast as the Trans-Siberian train line, or as narrow as a train's sleeping car.

CottonBee.pl, the online textile-printing studio

CottonBee.pl, online textile-printing studio Podoba mi się (I Like It), Must Have 2014, photo: Łódź Design Festival 2014

CottonBee.pl is the first Polish online textile-printing studio. The company prints on cotton fabrics, clothing and bedding. There are no limits as to size of the orders, colour availability, or the scale of a single repeating pattern.

Wooden and stone boards by Tatemono

Tatemono, wooden and stone boards, photo: Łódź Design Festival

The design of these everyday objects took into account three different "dimensions" – functionality, form, and choice of material. A simple and minimalist form emphasises the honesty and beauty of material – the unique and solid cold stone, and the structure of the warm beechwood. The objects are perfectly functional in the kitchen, but they can also be used for decorating the interior of a house.

Lokomotywa puzzle and book by Visart

Puzzle i książka "Lokomotywa", projekt: Kasia Bogucka, producent: Visart, Must Have 2014, fot. Łódź Design Festival 2014 — Lokomotywa puzzle and book, designed by Kasia Bogucka, produced by Visart, Must Have 2014, photo: Łódź Design Festival 2014

design by: Katarzyna Bogucka

Selected works by Katarzyna Bogucka – Image Gallery

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Julian Tuwim's Lokomotywa (The Locomotive) is a classic children's rhyme that needs no introduction among Poles. Known and cherished by generations, the verses describing the huge and miraculous work of steel and its adventures are known by heart by the majority of Poles even years after the book's first edition. Because it's such a classic, it has already been illustrated by some of the best illustrators in Poland and any attempt to picture it anew is risky. Katarzyna Bogucka nonetheless bravely tackled this challenge, and her design is also accompanied by a set of puzzles.

Bajo, animals threatened with extinction

Animals threatened with exinction, design by: Anna Bajor, produced by Bajo, Must Have 2014, photo: Łódź Design Festival 2014 — Animals threatened with extinction, design by: Anna Bajor, produced by Bajo, Must Have 2014, photo: Łódź Design Festival 2014

Four toys made of different kinds of wood depict animals which are listed as some of the most endangered. The elements of the figures move, letting the little animals take on different poses. They can be an educational toy, an ornament, a gadget, or a message. The rounded and delicate edges of the figures give them a sculpture-like character.

Grafiki (Graphic works) by Dawid Ryski

Dawid Ryski's poster, source: promotional materials

A series of posters by one of the most talented graphic designers of the young generation, Dawid Ryski, printed using the silk-screen method. The collection encompasses works made for children, as well as their parents.

Selected Posters by Dawid Ryski - Image Gallery

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Dice+

design by: Patryk Strzelewicz (Game Technologies S.A.), Michał Bonikowski(Mindsailors)

DICE+ is the first to connect two worlds – traditional dice games and digital on-screen entertainment for tablets. It is an advanced and very easily operated controller in the shape of a cube. It connects with tablets or other electronic devices via Bluetooth, and allows for up to 20 hours of fun on a single charge.

Dustpan and Brush

Sweeper & Dustpan by Jan Kochański, photo: courtesy of the designer

The brush is made from oiled beechwood and horsehair, which sweeps up better than any synthetic materials. It can be slipped into the handle of the duster, and the two can be stored together hanging on a playful loop. The little "funnel" inside the hole of the duster's handle also makes a perfect exit for the swept dust.

Drugie życie talerzy (The Second Life of Plates) by Łapińska Porcelana

Drugie Życie Talerzy (Second Life of the Plates) , designed by Magdalena Łapińska, produced by Łapińska Porcelana, Must Have 2014, photo: Łódź Design Festival 2014

design by: Magdalena Łapińska

These decorative plates are meant to hang from walls and are painted with graphic motifs. The form of a hanging plate, seemingly dated and frequently associated with the bourgeois style, was given new life by Magdalena Łapińska. For the decorations, she uses gold as well as silkscreen stencils. The plates are frequently recycled old items of porcelain found by the artist.

Bubble Recycled Skateboards by White Thrash

"Bubble Recycled", deskorolka, projekt: Maciej Bojarczuk, producent: White Trash, Must Have 2014, fot. Łódź Design Festival 2014 — Bubble Recycled, skateboard, design by Maciej Bojarczuk, produced by White Trash, Must Have 2014, photo: Łódź Design Festival 2014

design by: Maciej Bojarczuk

Bubble Recycled Skateboards are plastic mini cruiser type boards, allowing for smooth and comfortable cruising around the city. Bubble skateboards are made and produced in Poland, using select recyclable waste as well as high quality material. Here, quality is paired with environmentally aware design, and Bojarczuk's skateboard can comfortably rival world-renowned brands.

Montmartre pram by Wooden Story

Wózek "Montmartre" projekt: Żaneta Szlagowska / Grabovska, producent: Woodenstory, Must Have 2014, fot. Łódź Design Festival 2014 — Montmartre pram,designed by Żaneta Szlagowska / Grabovska, produced by Woodenstory, Must Have 2014, photo: Łódź Design Festival 2014

This stylish doll's pram in the Montmartre series is a toy that smells of the Beskidy mountain range forest. It is produced by the Woodenstory company, which has manufactured wooden goods since 1969. In 2014, the pram was awarded the Toy of the Year title by the zabawkowicz.pl website.

Child's Play: 25 Polish Designer Objects for Kids

Brambla, a rabbit's stool

UAU Project, stołek Królika (Rabbit's stool), for the Brambla company, photo: press release

design by: UAU project - Justyna Fałdzioska and Miłosz Dąbrowski

Stołek Królika (Rabbit's stool) is an example of a well-thought-out product which combines functionality and form. The simple organic shape and wide colour palette of the stools make them easily adaptable to both minimalist and eclectic interiors.

Pajaksport, the Radical X sleeping bag

Pajaksport, Radical X sleeping bag, design by Wojciech Kłapcia, Wojciech Pająk, photo: press release

design by: Wojciech Kłapcia, Wojciech Pająk

Radical X is the lightest of Pajaksport's sleeping bags. It will be perfect whenever minimal volume and weight count the most. It also provides perfect comfort in summer conditions. Sure to be appreciated for all those looking for ultra-light equipment.

Boomini Woods dollhouse by BOOMINI Joanna Kruszec

BOOMINI WOOD designed by Adam Kozik, produced by BOOMINI Joanna Kruszec, Must Have 2014, photo: Łódź Design Festival 2014

design by: Adam Kozik, Ola Wołczyk

A spacious house made of four elements which can be mounted together in a variety of ways. It is perfect for a few children playing together, because its construction allows access from all sides. The interior has pastel colours, and the furniture is made from wood and plywood, painted with watercolours. All of the tapestry elements are made from natural woollen felt.

KOLO lamp by Pani Jurek

Lampa "KOLO", projekt: Magda Jurek i Piotr Musiałowski, producent: Pani Jurek, Must Have 2014, fot. Łódź Design Festival 2014 — KOLO lamp, designed by Magda Jurek and Piotr Musiałowski, produced by Pani Jurek, Must Have 2014, photo: Łódź Design Festival 2014

KOLO – luminous cylindrical objects which change intensity of light depending on touch, designed by Pani Jurek in collaboration with the architect Piotr Musiałowski. KOLO Sand and KOLO Magnet engage users in a sensory game while allowing them to adapt the intensity of light to mood and need.

Source: Łódź Design Festival materials,

Edited by PZ, translated by Pauilna Schlosser, 11/12/2014

Language English