7 design objects Gen Z would love for Christmas Design gift guide for Gen Z

In an era in which the home has become the most public and photographable extension of personal identity — a space to live in, curate, and share — even gift-giving takes on a new meaning. It is no longer just about utility or economic value, but about visual language, cultural recognisability, and aesthetic belonging.

For Gen Z, giving (or receiving) design means choosing objects that express a vision and function just as well in physical space as they do on an Instagram or TikTok feed. Between rediscovered historical icons, contemporary production, and pieces that move between art and function, here is a selection of objects that have become true objects of desire.

Kartell Componibili (Anna Castelli Ferrieri, 1967)

Among the clearest examples of democratic design that transcends generations, Kartell’s Componibili remain incredibly relevant. Designed by Anna Castelli Ferrieri in 1967, they are simple, functional, and instantly recognisable modular units. Gen Z continuously rediscovers and reinterprets them: no longer just bathroom storage, but bedroom organisers, vinyl holders, minimalist bedside tables, or statement objects in carefully curated corners. Their availability today through various promotions and retailers reinforces their symbolic role: design not as distant luxury, but as an accessible, everyday presence that is culturally cool.

Dalù by Artemide (Vico Magistretti, 1969)

An icon of Italian design signed by Vico Magistretti, Dalù is a lamp that never ages. Compact, ironic, with a soft and almost playful shape, it perfectly embodies that balance between historical memory and contemporaneity that Gen Z loves to rediscover. It is not a “silent” lamp: Dalù stands out, tells a story, and carries with it the legacy of Italian radical design without falling into nostalgic retromania. It is the kind of object that adds a strong pop visual accent to a smart working desk or a bedside table.

Valet Tray / Pen Holder (Joe Colombo for B-Line)

Joe Colombo is one of those designers Gen Z is rediscovering for his futuristic and systemic vision. The valet tray / pen holder reissued by B-Line is a small object that encapsulates a big idea: space as a modular, flexible, and dynamic system. Perfect for a creative desk or a content creation corner, it reflects a future imagined in the 1960s that feels surprisingly current today, mirroring the mindset of a generation accustomed to modularity and constant change. A discreet yet culturally powerful gift.

Velaschina Vase – Mondano

Mondano is a collection of home objects dedicated to Milanese architecture, produced through 3D printing in sustainable PLA. The project brings together urban memory, technology, and sustainability, speaking directly to a generation that cares about production processes as much as form. The Velaschina vase, part of the Milan Icons line, is a small domestic architecture, a tribute to the city translated into an object. With an accessible price point, it becomes the perfect gift for those who love Milan, narrative design, and new forms of ethical production.

Cassina Miniatures – Milan Icons (Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, Charlotte Perriand)

Here, design becomes collection and heritage. Cassina offers 1:6 scale miniatures of some of its most iconic pieces, designed by masters such as Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, and Charlotte Perriand. These are not simple replicas, but objects made using the same materials and colours as the originals. They are pieces for those who experience design as history and cultural archive, for those who love observing and collecting. With prices starting at around €420, they represent an important gift, a long-term investment, and a definitive statement of connoisseurship.

A Fornasetti Plate

With Fornasetti, the boundary between design, art, and surrealism completely dissolves. A plate is never just a plate, but an image, a face (that of Lina Cavalieri), a symbol. It is the ideal object for those who see interiors as visual storytelling, for those who prefer hanging plates on walls rather than using them. Surreal, ironic, iconic: Fornasetti continues to speak to a generation that thrives on cultural references, visual quotations, and an aesthetic that celebrates the absurd with elegance.

Design & Culture Books (Apartamento Magazine)

In a world dominated by fast images, books remain among the most intimate and desirable objects. Apartamento, more than an interior design magazine, is a true lifestyle manifesto offering an authentic look at the way people live. Lived-in homes, imperfect spaces, and personal stories take centre stage. Giving a design book today means giving time, inspiration, and a more human perspective on domestic space. It is the perfect object for those who want to show that aesthetics do not stop at the surface.