5 original Christmas gifts

Planning gifts can be fun and imaginative, and thinking about the perfect present lets us get to know our loved ones and spark their hobbies. A gift can be a small investment in knowledge and creativity, and an opportunity to give someone exactly what they would buy for their free time or work.

We’ve highlighted five top-brand products available from our partners' offerings that will be a real surprise for creatives. A bit different, but that is exactly what sets them apart from socks and candies, which are the easiest gift options when we don’t know what to give. They are available in online shops, so you can order them from the comfort of your home during these unusual times.

1. Verbatim Store 'n' Go

Do you know someone who never has enough memory or whose computer is a little chaotic? An external SSD is the perfect gift for anyone who wants to securely store their digital work, so you could surprise a photographer, graphic designer, or digital artist with this. Lightweight and practical drives from Verbatim are an original gift that will delight someone who loves receiving a functional gift for their work or hobby. We’ve highlighted the Store 'n' Go external drives that provide a fast and secure solution for expanding storage and backup files. The hard drives in this line ship with a Micro-B to USB-A cable for connecting to standard USB ports. For those with the latest laptops and USB-C connections without a USB-A port, a USB-A to USB-C adapter is also included. This enables compatibility of the hard drive with different Macs, desktops and laptops, and data transfer between them on Store 'n' Go is easy and light! The disk itself also comes with Nero Backup software that lets you create backups so your files are always protected.

2. Uni Emott markers

Minimalist design and waterproof ink make the perfect combination for anyone who loves writing, drawing, bullet journaling, illustrations, or school/college notes. They win with their design alone, so any gift packaging is unnecessary. They come in a set of five markers on a white stand that fits into any workspace, or in a box with 10 or 40 markers. The marker tip is plastic and durable, 0.4 mm thick, making it ideal for writing and coloring on all kinds of paper, and it won’t scratch the paper in a regular notebook. They come in a wide range of irresistible colors, and the ink is waterproof and does not smudge, which means the markers can be used for techniques like watercolor and for quick notes.

3. Miquelrius Emotions notebook

Every geek or notebook enthusiast knows what Miquelrius is and why their notebooks are special. The Original notebooks with soft and hard covers from the Emotions collection captivate pupils, students and everyone who loves to write. Let’s start with the covers – pastel and classic colors of soft or hard covers will make it hard to decide which to choose. Spiral binding – the notebook can lie flat open to 180 degrees without snagging, and the spiral also has a special protective mechanism so the paper never falls out. Paper – each page has a ruled line so it can be properly and neatly torn out, and at the very top there are headings for the title (those who love organization will appreciate this). There are also ones with color-coded compartments, so you can use one notebook for multiple subjects.

4. Brother P-touch 0label printer

Totally unusual, yet functional gift for creatives and those who love to be organized! It prints labels that can be used to mark anything you want. They are ideal for creatives who like to write something on their works or embellish them with labels. And if you have friends who simply love being organized in their office and labeling every folder and item, this will be the perfect device for them. Let's not forget about technical professions, so if you want to gift something tool-related, this device makes the job easier because it prints labels for DVD/CD, devices, furniture, cables. Models are P-touch 107B and P-touch110.

5. Wave backpack

A quality backpack protects your back, and in it you can carry everything you need without worrying there isn’t room for anything. In the world of bags and backpacks, Wave stands out. It is made in Europe, with special attention paid to comfort and ergonomics. Wave offers multiple lines tailored to life activities such as work, sport, outings, and school/college. This gift will be appreciated by anyone who loves comfort and having all the essentials at hand.