Holiday Gift Guide 2023

This year I’ve put together a curated short list of my favorite items that I think would make great gifts for your loved ones (or yourself). Scroll down and take a look at the different categories. Most of these retailers are small businesses and have great sales going on this season, so take advantage while you can. Some of the links included in this post are my affiliate links, which I receive a small commission for, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting my content.

Productivity & Creative tools

The Note-Taking Kit* – A 3-piece system for your desktop made to help you capture, review, and store your everyday notes. Designed by me and the team and Grovemade.

Leather Notebooks/Sketchbooks by Grovemade* - If you’re looking for a notebook or sketchbook that opens flat, and has refillable papers, these have been my favorite for the past few years. It’s also compatible with the Note-Takiing Kit Display Rail.

Metal Pen and Stand* - Nothing beats writing with a heavy-weight pen.

*Save 10% off your first Grovemade purchase when you use code MODMUSINGS at checkout.

Mark One Pen – If you like clicky pens, it doesn’t get better than this.

Blackwing Pencils – The best pencil to draw and write with.

Blackwing Pencil Sharpener - The perfect sharpener to pair with the perfect pencil.

Herring Blade by CW&T - Simple and beautifully designed utility blade.

Video Production Template for Notion – Are you a YouTube creator and need a better workflow to ideate and organize your video production? I created this template from my own process to help you make better content.

Matthew Encina’s courses & kits at The Futur – My courses and kits at The Futur (The Pitch Kit, Practical Project Management, and Styleframes) are 25% off between Nov 22-30. Use code THANKYOU at checkout.

Organization

Sidio Crates* – These are beautifully designed stackable organization crates that can be divided up to organize all of your gear. I’ve been using them at the studio to organize camera gear and project materials.
*Up to 20% off during their Black Friday sale.

Skadis Pegboard & 3rd Party Accessories – I’ve been a fan of the IKEA pegboard system, but what I love even more are all the 3rd party accessory makers on Etsy. They make custom hooks for your keyboards, magnets for your tools, and even holders for your game accessories.

Practiko Slim Otis Tower Drawer* – An ultra-slim tower with removable drawers to organize small items like cables and adapters. This fits perfectly between my desks and comes in black or white. *Use code MODMUSINGS to save 15% on your order.

Bookends by The Artifox – It was really difficult for me to find a sturdy bookend for my studio hardcover art books, but these did the trick. they stand on their own without weight, and come in black, white, and sand.

Desk Setup

Ergonofis Desks & Chairs* – Your desk is the foundation of your entire setup, so it’s worth investing in. Ergonofis makes high-quality solid wood desks and chairs to help you set up the foundation of your dream office. I’ve used their desks for years, and they still look gorgeous. I also highly recommend their Youtoo chair (even over my Herman Miller chairs).
*Save up to 20% off during their holiday sale.

Grovemade* – Nothing beats the original. Grovemade is a small company based out of Portland, Oregon. They make premium desk accessories, like their desk shelf and desk pads, that will last a lifetime and elevate the look of your setup.
*Save 10% off your first Grovemade purchase when you use code MODMUSINGS at checkout.

Coffee

Hasami Porcelain Mug - My favorite coffee cup.

Fellow* – Coffee makers, grinders, and kettles. Perfect for any kitchen and pour-over enthusiast. Check out their latest release, the Tally Pro, the best coffee scale I’ve used to date.
*Save 20% off Fellow during their Holiday Sale.

Unique Coffee Beans at Fellow - Get good hand-picked coffee curated by the team at Fellow.

Lelit Mara X Espresso Machine – If you’re ready to get a high-quality espresso machine, perfect for the home or office, I recommend the Mara X. It’s a single-boiler, compact machine that holds temperature well. I’ve even hosted a bunch of friends at my studio, and this little machine was able to keep up with hours of usage.

Vero Espresso glass from Not Neutral – If you’re looking for a set of stylish mugs/glasses for your espresso-style drinks, look no further.

My coffee setup – Check out my blog post if you’re interested in learning about my coffee setup and the gear I use.

Bags & EDC

Peak Design Camera Backpack - The perfect everyday backpack for hybrid creatives. Plenty of room for your laptop, tech, and cameras.

Venture Sling 10L by Bellroy - I use this sling every day. It’s roomy to fit most of my small things (iPad, books, pen) and large enough to hold my Mirrorless camera and lens.

Ruckpack by DSPTCH – I’ve owned this bag for over 10 years. It’s still my favorite general backpack I use for taking to the gym or on short trips.

LARQ Water Bottle* – If you want a clean water bottle that keeps your drinks cool, look no further than this simple bottle with a high-tech self-cleaning system.
*Up to 30% off during their Black Friday sale

Apex Slim Wallet – Get rid of the bulky bi-fold in your back pocket and upgrade to a slim wallet. I’ve been using this for 5 years and it still looks great.

TMA-2 Wireless + Headphones – I’ve been a user of headphones from Aiaiai since 2014. These are the best headphones I’ve ever owned. Amazing look, and sound, and are wireless. The best thing is that they are completely modular in case you want to upgrade or replace parts.

Camera Gear

Moment Black Friday Sale - Moment is a one-stop shop for cameras, film, lighting, and accessories. They currently have a huge Black Friday sale with up to 70% off.

Ricoh GRIIIx – This is my everyday point-and-shoot camera. I’ve fallen in love with taking photos again, because of this camera. It’s small enough to actually fit in your pocket, and you can utilize its film simulations to take gorgeous photos straight from camera, without editing them in post. Check out my Instagram for recent samples. Note: Ricoh makes two variants of this camera. If you want a wider angle, purchase the GRIII variant.

Keyboards & Mice

MODE Keyboards* - If you’re ready to take the leap and get a premium custom mechanical keyboard, I highly recommend getting a kit from MODE. They have many layouts and styles available and come in so many color options. They are an absolute joy to type on and look at. My personal favorite keyboard from them is The Sonnet. If you’re building a keyboard for the first time, check out my guide.
*MODE has announced a Black Friday to Cyber Monday sale of up to 50% off sitewide.

Novelkeys* – Do you need new keycaps for your keyboard? Or maybe it’s time to swap out your switches? Novelkeys has a wide variety of keyboard parts in stock ready to ship.
*Up to 40% everything in-stock 11/23-11/27.

Logitech – My two favorite mice of all time come from this company. I recommend checking out the LIFT, the only vertical ergonomic-style mouse that actually looks good. And if you’re looking for THE productivity mouse, check out the MX Master 3S.

Home

Vitruvi Diffuser* - They’ve created a beautiful-looking diffuser that’s wireless, so you can charge it on the base and move it wherever you need it. My favorite scent it “Boost.”
*up to 40% off sitewide between Nov 19-27

LARQ Pitcher* – I’ve been using the LARQ pitcher to filter my home tap water, which makes it taste delicious.
*Up to 30% off during their Black Friday sale

HOTO tool set* - Perfect for small DIY projects and a huge step up from that cheap IKEA set you’ve got. Plus, they look incredible– “The Apple” of tools.

HOTO Air Duster & Vaccum* – Perfect for cleaning up the dust on your desk, coffee station, or countertops.

*20% off during HOTOS’s Black Friday sale