Five Star Gift Ideas

Given your friend's interest in their game design course, you have a great opportunity to find a birthday gift that aligns with their passion and enhances their creative journey in this field. Here are some thoughtful and personal gift ideas that can cater to their love for game design:

1. **Art of Game Design Book**: A highly recommended book, such as "The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses" by Jesse Schell, can offer your friend new perspectives and insights into designing engaging and creative games. This book is often praised for its practical approach and its ability to inspire readers to think like a game designer.

2. **Game Design Software Subscription**: Consider gifting a subscription to a game design software platform or service, such as Unity, Unreal Engine, or Adobe Creative Cloud. These tools are invaluable for game designers and can help your friend experiment and create new projects.

3. **Online Courses or Workshops**: Platforms like Udemy, Coursera, or MasterClass offer specialized courses in game design and development. Gifting them a course or workshop could not only supplement their current education but also inspire them to explore new facets of game design.

4. **Sketchbook or Digital Drawing Tablet**: If your friend is involved in creating visual game elements, a high-quality sketchbook or a digital drawing tablet (such as a Wacom Intuos) could be perfect for sketching out character designs and game ideas.

5. **Indie Game Developer Documentary**: A DVD or streaming subscription that includes access to inspiring documentaries, like "Indie Game: The Movie," could be both motivational and educational, offering a glimpse into the world of independent game developers.

6. **Customized Game Merchandise**: If your friend has a favorite video game or character, consider creating customized merchandise such as a T-shirt, mug, or poster featuring unique game artwork or design concepts they love.

7. **Board Game Analysis Book**: For a different angle, "Characteristics of Games" by George Skaff Elias explores mechanics and elements of various games. It’s a great read for understanding the underlying principles that make games engaging and fun.

8. **Networking Event Ticket**: Look out for passes to a game design conference or networking event. These can be invaluable for a game designer, providing opportunities to meet industry professionals, gain insights, and showcase their own work.

By choosing any of these gifts, you not only acknowledge their passion but actively contribute to their educational and professional growth. Tailor the gift with a heartfelt note to express how proud you are of their journey and ambitions, making it even more special and personal.

Or you can get her/him a star map with the date when she/he was born.

Alice Dickinson says about Under Lucky Stars star maps:

“I made a map for my mums birthday and she absolutely loved it. Definitely buying another one soon, probably for another family member or friend”