What do LA creatives desire for the season of giving? Our members share a bit about the unique holiday gifts they’ve received or still wish for.

“For several years now I’ve been keeping an electronic calendar with Palm software, but a recent series of software switches (long story) now has me in Entourage, and I can no longer use Palm now that they’re phasing out the software and I’m switching from a Treo to a BlackBerry. Thus betrayed by the computer, I’ve decided this year to go back to paper, and I’m buying myself a 2008 Trinote to put in a red Nappa cover that I received a decade ago. I purchased the calendar refill where I had before electronica permeated my life, from the Daily Planner. When I placed my order this year, I discovered that the Daily Planner now carries Knock Knock goods.�

Jen Bilik, Head Honcho at Knock Knock

“I have many favorite things, including whiskers on kittens, and brown paper packages tied up with spring. But today, my favorite holiday gifts are my models that are on my desk. Psycho, corny, and disturbing, but I love them. One is the train station for Casey Jr. and the other is the Main Street Omnibus, both from Disneyland 1955. The models were limited editions that aren't for sale anymore, but they may end up on eBay once in a while. Not only are they beautiful, they scare people; so nobody gets too close to my desk.�

Sean Adams, President of AIGA National and 2006 AIGA Fellow

“The best gift I could receive this year is a donation on my name to my local battered women shelter, like Peace Over Violence or to Amnesty International or to my local Homeless Shelter, or to National Public Radio. I definitely don't need the latest $150 designer teapot, or the latest scented candle for $80. What I really need is for my community to be healthier.�

Rebeca Mendez, Professor, UCLA Design Media Arts and Owner, Rebeca Mendez Design

“The best gift I received for the holidays was a vintage movie title kit. It was a kit to title your home super-8 movies. The reason I loved this so much was that a designer I worked with thought a lot about what to get me. At the time he knew someday I wanted to do film and TV titles. The thought of this gift means a lot to me.�

Brandon Martinez, Creative Director and Principal, Colourmovie

“When I was a kid I was absolutely obsessed with Strawberry Shortcake dolls and every year I asked Santa for another one–Blueberry Muffin, Apple Dumplin', Huckleberry Pie, Raspberry Tart, you name it–to add to my fruit-scented menagerie. Christmas was all about the thrill of inhaling that new Strawberry Shortcake head-scent, fresh out of the box. Now, if I catch even the faintest whiff of any of my Strawberry Shortcake dolls–and they all still smell!–I think...mmm, Christmas.�

Alissa Walker, Editor, UnBeige.com

“About 10 years ago my wife gave me the circa 1932 Mergenthaler Linotype Company (Brooklyn, New York) Specimen Book. What a delight to pour over and enjoy and reminisce about this big, beautiful volume of linotype faces and to remember how glad I am to not have to ‘character count’ and ‘spec type’ anymore!�

Ed Fella, on the faculty at CalArts and 2007 AIGA Medalist