Under a designer’s tree

Looking for a last-minute gift for your children, nieces, nephews or friends’ kids? Nine Italian designers and designer-couples spill the beans about what they are giving theirs this year.

For small children, there are design classics like Enzo Mari's Sedici Animali (1957) an animal puzzle made by Danese in thick oak, or a colourful plastic Eames Elephant from Vitra. Older ones will receive such gifts as Genuino/Arduino starter-kit boards and video games. Then there are balance bicycles, hand tattoos, collectible little wooden cars and construction sets. For almost everyone, all sorts of books will find their way to the tree: printed, digital, pop-up and illustrated.

That's an abbreviated list of what the following designers are planning to give some lucky children this year: Cristina Celestino (Attico); Luciana Di Virgilio and Gianni Veneziano (Veneziano Team); Francesco Faccin; Laura Fiaschi and Gabriele Pardi (Gumdesign); Odo Fioravanti; Katharina Lorenz and Steffen Kaz (Lorenz+Kaz); Giacomo Moor, Luca Nichetto and Matteo Ragni.