Top 10 Etsy shops for the designer in your life

In this day and age of chain stores, multi-nationals and homogenized rubbish, Etsy is there, providing an antithesis to all this bland conformity. Artists, designers and makers finally have a platform and a vehicle to sell their beautiful handmade wares to you and me. I know that if you’re visiting this blog, chances are you’re a designer or artist, or else you have someone in your life who loves design and typography, well this list will help you out if you’re stuck for a gift or just feel like looking at pretty things. Etsy is a wonderful marketplace to find rare and lovely handmade treasures. I’ve tracked down several of my favourite hand made design/typography Etsy stores for your edification.

1. Isette

Design and Victoriana with a twist of Whimsy. Check out the laser cut Perspex Ampersand earrings. A perfect gift for any typographer with pierced ears.

2. Junk Garden

In this shop, you will find a variety of fun, funky, and whimsical hand made items. Check out the beautiful reversible pendants with bits of type and illustration.

3. Chop Shop

Chop Shop has a great range of T-shirts with silhouetted icons. Look for characters from the world of science fiction with robots, aliens and vehicles.

4. Blue Bicicletta

Bold and whimsical pen and ink drawings, buttons, bags and prints

5. Modern Pop

Modern art for kids. Really sweet illustration and alphabet prints for your kids room or nursery.

6. Transit Design

Custom Bus Scrolls, Tram Rolls & Travel Art. Unusual homewares art, styled after vintage destination blinds.

7. Single Stone Studios

Vinyl Wall Decals for Home Décor—some cute, some quirky, some whimsical, but all gorgeous.

8. Louella Press

Whimsical letterpress cards and screen printed Tshirts.

9. Farouche

Some cute interior decorating trinkets here, little typographic signs to style up your home.

10. Letterbox Ink

Only a small range, but they’re absolutely gorgeous letterpress cards and wedding stationery.

Remember that Etsy store owners are all independent artists and designers—be sure to check their rating before you buy. It’s a case of buyer beware, like any online shopping.

I’d love to hear what you think of this article, please make a comment below.

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About The Author

Dominique Dominique

Dominique Falla likes to write about design, typography and shiny pretty things. She makes tactile typography in her spare time and convenes the graphic design program at QCA, Griffith University on Australia's Gold Coast. This blog is mainly intended as a resource for Dominique's students, but interested travellers from the Internet are always welcome.

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1 Comment

Daniel February 22, 2011

Thanks for this great list. I am doing Etsy research for my previous wife who wants to do business at home. I will look at these examples and tell her what she needs to do.