a brown colered pencil, sketches look better in brown

not a frank lloyd wright book (i like wright). he'll be getting plenty of these from others.

Maybe a subscription to a design magazine like dwell. If you want a tangible object you could buy the latest issue and give him that, tell him you got him a year's worth. Dwell's only 20 bucks a year, there are others you could get for under 30 though..

moleskin sketchbook

how about a Michael Graves Solitaire Game? It's architecturish (Michael Graves is an architect), artsy (he's an artist) and fun! Only $16.99 at Target!

subscription is a good idea. i would opt for readymade

i think one of the best presents i ever bought myself was my moleskine

by the way, 30 and below makes it fall in the range of 'knock off'

I'm with Stephanie, readymade is great. Its kinda architectural, but at the same time its kinda not. A nice change of pace that isn't really a change of pace...

> 2$B trust fund?

a nice pen. they will keep it forever.

i agree with subscriptions- but i'd go for wallpaper myself- a bit broader, but always interesting

Yes, Readymade is a great magazine. It might be a better choice as well, because depending on where you live, it can be hard to find.

If you're not into a subscription you might check out a copy of Readymade, they usually have a section of cheap(ish) design gift ideas.

Phaidon Atlas, especially if he is in school.

a $30 gift certificate to amazon.com

he's going to have to buy a lot of books and they have a great new and used architecture selection.

an external hard drive....by far the best present ive received

i'd skip the pen. i can't remember how many i've lost over the years - some of them really beautiful.

yea avoid the pen. Pens that regular people think are cool architects gwaack at. Trust mi was given the black with gold trim mont blanc when all I wanted with the ss one

maya unlimited 6.5......... but thats if you haver.... eh ..... 6 grand to blow.........

a good book: Kahn's Conversations With Students.

easy to read, inspirational but not in that stupid way. a good introduction to a passion of architecture.

archinect "architecture sucks" t-shirt -- really is there any doubt ???

an espresso coffee machine!

gaggia 540

and a sleeping bag

an application to a bood MBA program

or, at the very least, get a him a good book on the business of architecture/building


Amazon gift certificate would be good. That Phaidon Atlas is a good buy, too, for over all coverage.

damn, GOOD MBA PROGRAM

if your friend is heading to school in chicago a gift certificate to prairie avenue bookshop would be great. how bout a massage gift certificate. they come in handy. also booze is good

I'll go one better than the external hard drive, get him an iPod.

if you want to go cheaper than a hard drive or ipod, a small flash drive.
they can transfer all of those files they'll be working on at the school lab + home ALL THE TIME! also: i hear the school server crashes regularly and students lose their work. so tell your student friend: back up those files baby.

Rapidagraph Pens. Are people still using those?

IDEO Method cards