22 brilliant Christmas gift ideas from independent artists, designers and makers

With little time on your hands to sort presents for loved ones, Creative Boom has teamed up with Shillington design teachers to bring you the ultimate festive gift guide.

But not just any guide, you understand. The following treats will not only appeal to you creative folk because of the design aesthetics but also because many are brought to you by independent shops, designers and makers. (You might even want to show this guide to family and friends struggling to think of something for you.) Happy Christmas shopping!

1. HAY Sonos One Limited Edition

Designed by Danish brand HAY, this limited edition Sonos One is available in five fresh colours, soft pink being our favourite. The versatile speaker has 80 music services globally and comes with Amazon Alexa voice controls with superior, room-filling sound. One of the more expensive options in our list but sure to be a gift winner.

Priced at £229 – Buy the gift

2. Give the Joy Back by Anthony Burrill

This joyful letterpress poster by much-loved graphic artist Anthony Burrill is an open edition, signed in pencil, unframed, 51 x 76 cm (20 x 30 inches) and printed by Adams of Rye using traditional letterpress techniques.

Priced at £50 – Buy the gift

3. Smith the Roll Pack by Millican

Smith the Roll Pack by Millican has literally "got your back". It’s deceptively simple and lightweight, allowing you to travel further and harder. Geared towards life on the move, the Lake District-based firm has added discreet pockets for essentials such as your laptop and valuables. Beautifully functional, this is minimal design at its best.

Priced at £140 – Buy the gift

4. Morfff by Brendan Dawes

Always have "stuff" lying around next to your computer with no place to go? Morfff by Brendan Dawes is a beautiful, concrete-cast accessory for your desk. Use it to hold treasured photographs, notes or letters – whatever you want. It'll surely be a talking point amongst friends and colleagues.

Priced at £40 – Buy the gift

5. Stoneware Vase Spiral by Consall Forge Pottery

This hand-thrown stoneware vase with spiral texture is a bespoke piece by Consall Forge Pottery. All pots are individually handmade so may vary slightly, adding to their individuality.

Priced at £16 – Buy the gift

6. Emily Nude Print by James Wilson

This stunning minimal line drawing print by illustrator James Wilson is available on either A4 or A3 white 300gsm paper. Sold unframed, it will make a beautiful addition to any home or office.

Priced at £20 – Buy the gift

7. Charcoal Alpaca Socks by Tom Lane

We love these luxuriously soft Alpaca socks by Tom Lane. Made in England, they're calf-length, super soft and comfortable to wear. They're also great thermal insulators, designed to be exceptionally warm and hard wearing.

Priced at £16 – Buy the gift

8. Reusable coffee cup by Ecoffee Cup

For the coffee lover and eco-conscious person in your life, this black reusable coffee cup by Ecoffee Cup is an environmentally responsible reusable cup, made from organic and sustainably sourced bamboo fibre. Not just a perfect stocking filler but something your friends or family can re-use again and again.

Priced at £8 – Buy the gift

9. Palm Springs Pink Mid-Century House Necklace by Finest Imaginary

Bring a spot of Palm Springs summer lovin’ to your look with this gorgeously detailed mid-century house necklace. With its pretty pastels, intricate laser cut details and nostalgic design, strung from an 18" silver plated chain, it's a perfect addition to a white blouse and denim jacket get-up. Brought to you by independent designer-maker, Finest Imaginary aka Kim Lawler.

Priced at £37 – Buy the gift

10. Andy Warhol by Happy Socks

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without socks! And this wonderful sock box set pays homage to one of our favourite pop artists, Andy Warhol. Crafted from combed cotton, the pack features some of his most iconic prints: Flower, Cow, Dollar and Banana styles.

Priced at £44.95 – Buy the gift

11. Faux Bison Knitting Kit by Sincerely Louise

Make your own woolly bison with this cute knitting kit, courtesy of Sincerely Louise over on Etsy. The Bison (or buffalo, they're the same animal) is a really fun project, knitted up using super chunky yarn on 9mm needles. It would look pretty cool above a fireplace too.

Priced at £38 – Buy the gift

12. Linear Pompom Scarf by Miss Pompom

What's not to love about this stunning pompom scarf by, you guessed it, Miss Pompom! Black and cream stripes run the full length of this accessory with one block line of pink filling the outer edge. Slightly slimmer in width than the usual Miss Pompom scarves, this quirky version is finished off with wonderfully cute mini pompoms.

Priced at £42 – Buy the gift

13. Living Plant Box by Ferm

Changing up the shape of one of Ferm Living's timeless pieces, the Plant Box, welcomes an organic expression into any home. It preserves the clean lines and sleek look of the Plant Box, as we know it, but with a round box, it presents a whole new range of styling options. Fill it with plants, or use it as a coffee table with practical storage.

Priced at £168 – Buy the gift

14. Monaco Leather Fold-Over Clutch

Understated and perfect for accommodating all your essentials, this soft clutch by Monaco is made from 100% leather off-cuts with organic cotton lining.

Priced at £120 – Buy the gift

15. Inline Watch by Nomad Watches

The Inline by Nomad Watches moves all of the markings towards the centre of the dial leaving a clean outer band. The numbers 12, 3, 6 and 9 combined with the positioning and line weight of the hour and minute increments result in a beautifully minimalist dial.

Priced at $245.00 – Buy the gift

16. Portrait of Britain by Hoxton Mini Press and British Journal of Photography

Portrait of Britain is an annual photography exhibition showcasing the best portraits taken by people throughout the country. The winning photographs, selected from the British Journal of Photography's open-call competition, have been brought together in this gorgeous new photobook by independent publisher, Hoxton Mini Press. The chunky hardback features 200 shortlisted portraits alongside information about each image and selected quotes from the photographers. Together, these pictures celebrate the richness and diversity of a vibrant nation at a time of pivotal change.

Priced at £20 – Buy the gift

17. Los Angeles is Pink print by Mikal Strøm

A spacious city with pink sunsets and colourful facades, this print is from a photographic series by Mikal Strøm about getting lost on foot in Los Angeles. Look below the glassy skyscrapers and you will find some of the best examples of Art Deco and Modernist architecture anywhere in the United States. 'Los Angeles is Pink' celebrates clean lines and pastel tones that instantly transports you to the relaxed vibe of this city.

Priced at £36 – Buy the gift

18. Kaleido Tray by HAY

Kaleido is a series of trays which, with its modular system, works as a functional puzzle. With various colours and five geometric shapes, you can build your own designs and colour configurations, and select its function.

Priced from £13 – Buy the gift

19. Form Bar Necklace Brass & Blush by Tom Pigeon

Tom Pigeon continues to impress with this Form bar necklace. Part of a collection of minimal, geometric jewellery inspired by mid-century modernist art and architecture, it's handcrafted using layers of Blush Formica and solid brass.

Priced at £50 – Buy the gift

20. White Beaded Plant Hanger by Form Lifestyle

This lush white plant hanger with natural, unbleached wooden beads is designed and handmade by Form. Made from strong, acrylic cord for durability, it's suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. A must for the plant lover in your life.

Priced at £12 – Buy the gift

21. Tote by Benjamin Craven

Everyone loves a decent "bag for life" and this fine graphic specimen is designed by Benjamin Craven. Put together in Yorkshire, it's water resistant with a quick dry fabric.

£35 – Buy the gift

22. Majorelle Candle by Northwick Wares

Inspired by the Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech, this Majorelle candle transports you to the shady Moroccan garden lanes of what was once Yves Saint Laurent's holiday home. Sticky vanilla and woody cinnamon are offset by fresh lime and fragrant coriander to create a scent as unique as the garden itself. Brought to you by Northwick Wares, an independent business founded in 2017 by three friends from North London united by a love of design.

Priced at £40 – Buy the gift