The Best Father’s Day Gifts for Design-y Dads
June 10, 2025
Best Father’s Day Gifts for Design-y Dads | The Strategist
Every product is independently selected by (obsessive) editors. Things you buy through our links may earn us a commission.
11:04 A.M.
Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers
“Design dads” present an especially tricky Father’s Day challenge, as a particularly picky group with an eye for every last detail. My own dad is a graphic designer who got his start in the late ’70s, when everything was done by hand. Though he does most of his work on a computer now — designing artists’ books, doing the branding and design for a local brewery, and coloring a comic strip — he loves sketching on paper and takes most of his inspiration from printed materials like old stamps and carnival posters. So shopping for him seems easy at first, because he will always get excited about a new notebook or a fresh set of markers. But it’s much more difficult to find a gift that will stand out and delight him for longer. With that in mind, I put together a list of the best Father’s Day gifts for all sorts of design dads, from graphic designers like my dad to any father or father figure who appreciates a thoughtfully considered object, a perfectly chosen font, or a color palette that’s on point.
A couple years ago, when I asked artist Marcel Dzama about the things he can’t live without, he mentioned this nostalgic cassette player he uses to revisit his collection of music and mixtapes from the ’90s. He also uses it to record songs that he and his son play together on the guitar and harmonica. And though it may look lo-fi, it has Bluetooth and a USB port so you can use it to play music from your phone.
Dad hats are a great gift because they offer the wearer subtle bragging rights for knowing about a niche podcast, clothing brand, or art collective. Strategist writer Michael Zhao recently bought himself a version of this hat from the Scandinavian skate brand Dancer, which was founded by Norse Projects alums. I especially appreciate the wonky baby logo and corduroy fabric, but if corduroy feels too heavy for the season, the brand also makes this hat in nylon.
This clever pair of carrot scissors comes from Japanese gardening brand Niwaki, a favorite gifting resource of Zhao’s that makes a variety of thoughtfully designed tools and accessories. The bright-orange sheath is conveniently magnetic, so you can keep the scissors within easy reach on the front of your refrigerator.
[Editor’s note: Standard shipping will take between four and ten business days. But Boston General Store offers a variety of expedited shipping options for an extra fee to ensure your gift will arrive in time.]
If your design dad is also a card shark, I recommend getting him one of the five Eames decks available at Art of Play, whose entire inventory of playing cards, games, home goods, and desk décor is aesthetically pleasing to browse.
Artist Peter Shire once told me he prefers this affordable Timex — with a nice and bold sans-serif font — over a much more expensive watch because he doesn’t have to baby it. It’s anything but fancy, yet the no-frills design is both classic and stylish. Plus, Shire likes that it lights up in the dark.
An antidote to shaggy fabric that stays damp for days, this minimalist bath mat is made from diatomaceous earth, a porous stone that wicks away moisture and keeps mildew at bay. And it has a unique brutalist aesthetic that certain design dads will love.
Simple Human’s shower caddy is a great gift for the form and function diehards (according to both Zhao and Strategist senior editor Winnie Yang, it’s the only shower caddy that anyone should ever buy). It’s sleek and minimal looking, with a tight vicelike gripper to keep it from sliding down the showerhead and extra-strong suction cups that hold it secure even when it’s loaded with jumbo bottles of shampoo and conditioner. The shelves are adjustable, too, so you can customize it to hold shower stuff of all sizes.
From
$110
Many birder dads will appreciate any decent feeder that keeps squirrels away. But design dads will love this smart one that has a built-in camera to record every cardinal or finch who stops by for a snack, not to mention a handsome turquoise roof and matching perch. The feeder connects to an app that lets you live-stream your backyard birds and snap still photos from auto-recorded video clips; Strategist associate editor Jeremy Rellosa gifted it to his own father, who loves keeping track of the regulars and sharing photos in the family group chat.
$154
Photo: Retailer
Long before I had a kid, I was obsessed with design-y chairs for children, like this beech-wood one from Charlie Crane. Even though it’s technically for a toddler, it would be a great gift for any dad who isn’t ready to surrender the living room to brightly colored plastic.
And here’s a kid-friendly architecture book — recommended by Strategist senior editor Ailbhe Malone, who is married to a design dad — to go with it.
This brass key holder feels really good in your hand and looks nice hanging on a belt loop or the side of a backpack or tote bag. It’s the epitome of a gift that elevates a simple everyday object to much moredesign-yheights.
Style-conscious design dads might like a new pair of shades from British brand Cubitts, which recently opened its first stateside brick-and-mortar shops in New York. This pair is available with or without prescription lenses; the non-prescription version can be shipped or picked up in store in as little as two days.
If your dad already has a favorite pair of sunglasses, you could splurge on a handmade leather case in a unique color from Rhode Island indie brand Lindquist. All Lindquist leather is vegetable-tanned and cut, sewn, and finished by hand.
Speaking of cool cases, multiple Strategist staffers agree that the best case for a laptop or iPad is one of the puffy sleeves from Baggu. I have the small size for my iPad and the larger size for my laptop; they’re simple, affordable, and fun. This psychedelic gradient pattern is the one I would pick as a gift for my own dad.
$133
Malone introduced me to this series of glass and ceramic creatures from Studio Arhoj that would make a nice addition to a desk or bookshelf. I picked this set because it glows in the dark.
Lomo 35mm cameras aren’t fancy, but they are well-designed, hefty, and just slightly inconsistent so your photos always come with a fun little surprise. I have had mine for over ten years, and it still takes some of my favorite pictures. Plus it’s built like a tank so you can use it with little kids without worrying about it breaking.
Strategist contributor Peyton Dix wrote a glowing review about the fine-point version of this Sakura brown pen, though I personally prefer the brush tip. She calls the uncommon ink color “special without showing off, different but still demure.” So even if your design dad is already familiar with Sakura pens, the brown ink will add some mystery. Gifting the brush tip over the fine point will encourage a more experimental vibe.
There are hundreds of “adult” LEGO sets that designers and fans of good design would enjoy. My pick for Father’s Day this year is the white Porsche 911 because of its vintage (but not too vintage) appeal and neutral colors that would look handsome on a shelf or the top of a bureau.
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The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
The Best Father’s Day Gifts for Design-y Dads
Every product is independently selected by (obsessive) editors. Things you buy through our links may earn us a commission.
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