Nick Finck

Gifts for User Experience Geeks 2009
Dec 2nd, 2009

Following in the footsteps of last year’s post it is once again time for the gifts for user experience geeks post for the 2009 holiday season.  Just like last year this list is a collection of items I have come across over the last year that would make the ideal gifts for UX geeks like Information Architects, Usability Specialists, Interaction Designers, and even Web Designers.  I also put the call out to several of my colleagues to contribute suggestions and I have included those where I felt they were a good fit.  Thank you to everyone who contributed!  Hope you like the list.  If you notice something not on my list let me know and I’ll add it!

Diagramming, Sketching, & Prototyping Software

• OmniGraffle Professional 5.2.1 for Mac ($199.95)
• Microsoft Visio Professional 2007 for Windows ($599.95)
• Expression Blend + SketchFlow for Windows ($599)
• Balsamiq Mockups Desktop for Mac & Windows ($79+)
• Autodesk SketchBook Mobile for iPhone ($2.99)
• Adobe Fireworks CS4 for Mac & Windows ($299)
• ProtoShare Web-Based App ($19+/month)
• iRise Professional for Windows ($6,995/seat)
• Axure RP Pro 5.6 for Windows ($589)
• IconFactory xScope for Mac ($26.95)

User Research Software

• Silverback for Mac ($49.95)
• Morae 3.1 for Windows ($1,495)
• Camtasia Studio for Windows ($299)
• Camtasia for Mac ($99)
• Snagit for Windows ($49.95)
• Adobe Acrobat Connect Pro for Mac & Windows ($45/month)

Software Add-Ons

• Konigi Wireframe Stencils for Omnigraffle (free!)
• Konigi UX Template for Omnigraffle (free!)
• Konigi Wireframe Icons for Omnigraffle ($10)
• Konigi Wireframe Icons for Axure ($10)
• Konigi Sketch Stencils for Omnigraffle ($10)

Paper Products

• Konigi Wireframe Sketch Book ($12)
• Konigi 5.25” Floppy Disk Sketchbook ($15)
• Konigi Wireframe Notepads ($9)
• Dot Grid Book ($14)
• Konigi Storyboard Notepads ($9)
• Action Method Paper Products ($5-$15)
• Moleskine notebooks ($3+)
• Modofly notebooks ($16)
• Manga Sticky Notes ($8)
• Notepods ($17.95)
• iPhone App Sketchbook ($9.95)
• AppBooks ($18)
• Post-It Notes ($6.99+)
• Notefolio ($36)
• Portable Clipboard Storage Case ($19.99)

Drawing Surfaces

• Writeboard Slim ($14.50)
• IdeaPaint ($199.50)
• Glass (and Magnetic) Whiteboard ($349+)

Sketching Instruments

• Factory Floor Issue Longhand Set ($20)
• Pulse Smartpen ($169.95+)
• Pentel Sharp Kerry 0.50mm mechanical pencil & case ($14.69)
• Uni-Ball Jetstream 0.7mm gel pen ($2.99)
• Uni-ball Jetstream rubber bodied 0.7mm ballpoint pen ($3.75)
• Sakura Micron .45mm black marker ($2.79)
• Sanford Liquid Expresso pen ($2.29)
• Faber-Castell Pitt Artist pen gift box, Set of 24 ($39.99)
• Prismacolor Premier Double Ended Art Markers, Set of 48 ($87.15)
• Expo Low Oder Dry Erase Markers ($5.39)
• Eraser Brush (£7.50)
• Kokuyo Will Stationery Actic Egg Shape Eraser ($2.25)
• Kokuyo KadoKeshi Stick Mini Twist Eraser ($3.00)

Educational & Advocacy Materials

• 2010 User Experience Calendar ($12.95)
• Mental Notes ($33)
• nForm UX Trading Cards (Priceless / only available at the IA Summit)
• IDEO Method Cards ($49)
• ThinkCube ($100)
• Objectified DVD and/or Posters ($20)
• Helvetica DVD and/or Posters ($20)

Misc. Goodies

• Website Stencil Kit ($17.95)
• iPhone Stencil Kit ($17.95)
• GUI Magnets (€19.99)
• Magnetic Pen & Pencil Holders ($9.95)
• Kokuyo NeoCritz Transformer Pencil Case ($12.99)
• Note Card Bleachers ($58)
• Serif Tote Bag ($24)
• Pantone Mugs ($125)
• Tweet Bottle Siggs ($24.99)

Hardware Related

• Scratch-n-Scroll mousepad ($14.99)
• TDK Trans-It Edge Flash Drive ($19.95+)
• Bluelounge CableDrop Cable Holder ($9.95)
• Bluelounge Notebook Kit ($19.95)
• Sling Back cord retractor ($8.99)
• Wacom Intuos4 ($229+)

Clothing

• UXWear T-Shirt ($18.95)
• Viva Jakob T-shirt ($25)
• Usabilitees T-shirts ($21.25-$23.25)

Events & Associations

• Membership to the Information Architecture Institute ($20-40)
• Tickets to the IA Summit 2010 in Phoenix, AZ, USA (estimated at $305-$680)
• Tickets to Interaction10 Conference in Savannah, GA, USA ($299-$749)

Rosenfeld Books

• Mental Models: Aligning design strategy with human behavior by Indi Young ($36)
• Web Form Design: Filling in the Blanks by Luke Wroblewski ($36)
• Design is the Problem: The Future of Design Must be Sustainable by Nathan Shedroff ($36)
• Card Sorting: Designing Usable Categories by Donna Spencer ($36)
• Prototyping: A Practitioner’s Guide to Prototyping by Todd Zaki Warfel ($36)

Other Books

• Information Architecture for the World Wide Web: Designing Large-Scale Web Sites (3rd edition) by Peter Morville & Louis Rosenfeld ($26.39)
• A Project Guide to UX Design by Russ Unger and Carolyn Chandler ($23.09)
• Content Strategy for the Web by Kristina Halvorson ($16.49)
• The Little UX That Went a Long Way by Dan Willis ($12.95)
• Web Anatomy: Interaction Design Frameworks that Work by Robert Hoekman and Jared Spool ($26.99)
• The Visual Miscellaneum: A Colorful Guide To The World’s Most Consequential Trivia by David McCandless ($17.81)
• Communicating Design: Developing Web Site Documentation for Design and Planning by Dan Brown ($29.69)
• Information Architecture: Blueprints for the Web by Christina Wodtke ($26.39)
• Information Architecture for Designers by Peter Van Dijck ($60.56)
• Designing Interactions by Bill Moggridge ($28.35)
• Sketching User Experiences by Bill Buxton ($32.97)
• The Elements of User Experience: User-Centered Design for the Web by Jesse James Garrett ($23.09)
• Designing for Interactions by Dan Saffer ($29.70)
• Designing Interfaces by Jenifer Tidwell ($32.97)
• Designing the Obvious: A Common Sense Approach to Web Application Design by Robert Hoekman Jr. ($26.39)