Swinburne holiday gift guide

Technology and lifestyle 

Jesse Leeworthy – Memobottle 

Product design engineering graduate turned sessional lecturer Jesse Leeworthy is one of the minds behind iconic flat reusable water bottle memobottle. Their environmentally conscious bottles and accessories help provide clean water and end throwaway culture, while providing customers with sleek and modern designs.

Dan Golding – Mars First Logistics 

From the composer of Untitled Goose Game, Swinburne academic Professor Dan Golding is back with a new adventure. Explore the barren land of the Red Planet in Mars First Logistics. Build rovers and transport cargo across the small planet using physics and puzzles. Play with friends or go at it solo!

Sustainability and social impact 

Manon Beauchamp-Tardieu – Little Green Panda 

Looking for something small with huge impact? Little Green Panda has you covered. Swinburne alum Manon Beauchamp-Tardieu leads this startup that took part in Swinburne’s 2020 Accelerator Program. Their sustainable straws, cutlery and coffee cups are 100 per cent plant-based, created from the waste products of agricultural processes.

Bianca Stern – All Things Equal 

Co-founded by Swinburne alum Bianca Stern, All Things Equal is a Melbourne-based social enterprise providing fresh food and meaningful impact by empowering people with disability through award-wage employment, purposeful training and pathways to rewarding careers in hospitality. Perfect for when you need quality food for functions this holiday season. 

Art and design 

Dominique Gauci – DG Designs 

Irresistible prints, cards and wrapping, design graduate Dominique Gauci’s business DG Designs produces quality print art. From athletic champions to Hollywood stars and iconic ice creams, the geometric art prints are perfect for the pop culture obsessed. You can even personalise your portrait with whatever or whoever deserves a spot on the wall.

Christina Re 

Swinburne alum Cristina Re’s new Christmas Collection ‘A Sparkling Christmas’ range is now available! Glittering with gold and decorated with festive motifs, hand illustrated by Cristina Re, it’s the perfect set for Christmas Day. Cristina Re also has a variety of products you can explore including tea ware, cutlery, mugs and glassware for every occasion. 

Catherine Bloxom – Cardigang

Bachelor of Business alum Cat Bloxsom is the founder of knitting kit business, Cardigang. These luxury knit kits give you the tools you need, including 100% Australian Chunk Merino wools, to produce a knitted sweater with your very own hands. From sweaters to stylish beanies, even beginner knitters can create one in just a few days. 

Katie Bugden - Indigenous Artwork

Kamilaroi artist and Bachelor of Education (Secondary) alum Katie Bugden's art tells the stories of her ancestors and draws inspiration from the colours of the land, soil, rivers and wildlife. From life growing up on Bundjalung land in Northern NSW, her beautiful prints reflect her culture and life. Choose from vibrant canvas bags, stickers, bookmarks and premade or custom canvases available on her website.

Books

Dr Sara Webb – The Little Book of Cosmic Catastrophes (That Could End the World)

Explore astronomical conundrums with Swinburne alum and academic Dr Sara Webb as she turns complex ideas into easy-to-digest parts. Discover the beginnings of earth, how chaotic our universe is – from asteroids attacks to alien invasions – and what the future of the Universe could bring. Get it here.  

Kate Whitefield – When I Am at Kindergarten 

A warm, reassuring picture book by Swinburne alum Kate Whitfield. Ideal for parents of preschoolers, early educators and families preparing little ones for their exciting first year of kindergarten.  Get it here. 

Clea Cregan – Miniscapes: Create your own terrarium 

From Swinburne alum Clea Cregan, explore a new hobby with this guide to small landscaping. Learn to make mini terrariums and create your very own indoor garden. Suitable for all level of green-thumbs and perfect all year round, whatever the weather! Get started here. 

Trevor Barry – Outback Astronomer 

A beautifully written exploration of Australia’s night skies through the lens of a Swinburne astronomy alum Trevor Barry. Perfect for space enthusiasts, stargazers and anyone who loves Australian storytelling grounded in science. Get it here.