Metropolis Gift Guide 2019: Design

In this “Design” gift guide, we cover a lot of territory, from the functional (an elegant trash bin) to the just plain fun (a hammock!). No need to elbow your way through the crowds—here’s an assortment of design-savvy gifts so you can save your energy for holiday festivities (and opening presents of your own). 

RISOTTO 2020 Mini Calendar, starting at $9.92

Ring in the New Year with this vibrantly-hued, graphic calendar from the Scottish studio RISOTTO. Founded by designer Gabriella Marcella, RISOTTO specializes in risograph printing and produces all of its paper goods, from stationery to books, in its zero-waste workshop in Glasgow. Each of the months in this handy calendar is illustrated with a unique, jaunty pattern. The winter months won’t look so glum with this color-saturated piece tacked to your wall or propped on your desk. 

Nate Cotterman’s Balloon Bottles, starting at $215

The Balloon series is an apt name for North Carolina–based designer Nate Cotterman’s striking collection of glass vessels. Using traditional Venetian glass blowing techniques, he creates contemporary pieces that exude lightness and sense of movement. You can get creative and mix and match colors and forms as you so desire.

Vipp Pedal Bin, starting at $249 for one-gallon bin

This is no ordinary waste receptacle—Holger Nielsen’s Vipp Pedal Bin is a design classic that has been used for over 80 years in homes and offices in Denmark. Its streamlined design even earned it a place in MoMA’s permanent collection. This powder-coated and stainless-steel bin is available in a variety of sizes, making it well-suited for bathrooms and kitchens—more and more of which are themselves being created by the venerated family manufacturer.

T Vase, $195 

The T-form of this undulating vase isn’t just pretty—it also serves a practical purpose. Designer Marie Christine Dorner conceived the shape so that each branch of the “T” supports a different part of a floral arrangement. A collaboration between Dorner and Ligne Roset, the vase is hand blown and then treated to create an opaque effect. Available in peach, indigo, and gray, this vase makes a beautiful centerpiece on its own, or interlocked to form a group.

Now House by Jonathan Adler Vertigo Coasters, $40

Subtly evoking the graphics of Saul Bass’s iconic movie poster, these “Vertigo” coasters from Now House by Jonathan Adler lend some optical panache to a deskscape. Adler’s exclusive home collection for Amazon provides design fans with the chance to snatch up his covetable wares at a wallet-friendly price point. These stoneware coasters will add a fun pop of color to your living space while protecting your precious table top.

Nanimarquina Wellbeing Hammock, $1,035

Sustainability is a major touchpoint for us at Metropolis, so we were happy to learn about British interior designer Ilse Crawford’s collaboration with Nanimarquina. We especially gravitated to her minimalist, indoor hammock, which is made from hand-loomed, undyed, and unbleached cotton. 

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