13 of the Most Creative Mug Designs – Gift Ideas for Tea and Coffee Lovers

Many people like giving coffee mugs as gifts because mugs are always useful, long lasting and inexpensive. They are often given for occasions such as Mother's Day, Father's Day, Valentine's Day, birthdays and office Christmas parties. With the vast range of designs, themes and styles there is certainly a mug suitable for everyone, but of course if you are going to give it as a gift, you will want to find one that is unusual, creative and has a character.

Here are 13 seriously cool coffee mugs and cups you can actually buy.

These modern, sleek and unique mugs are part of Miam Miam’s Solar collection and are something that will definitely add some color to the beginning of your day. Miam Miam (which is French for yum-yum) is a design studio that creates innovative consumer products for eating, playing and entertaining.

The design of the Solar Mugs is inspired by the sculptures of Alexander Calder, who is perhaps best known for his kinetic sculptures called "mobiles". Each ergonomic mug is equipped with a giant handle which allows you to wrap your hand around the contoured body for the most comfortable fit. The mugs ship in unique gift boxes making them perfect, no-hassle gifts. Size: 17 oz. (Click to read customer reviews)

The Hidden Animal Teacups by Japanese designer Ange-Line Tetrault come in three varieties: bear, owl and fox. The cups look pretty normal from the outside, but there is a small animal at the bottom of each one, that is actually part of the mug itself. The animals stay hidden when the cup is full and appear as you drink up. Size: 16 oz

The Camera Lens Mug is something that can help you focus in the morning. The amazingly cool mug comes in two models - "Nikon" and "Canon". Both models are designed to look exactly like real camera lenses and have lens covers that double as lids and coasters, rubber-grip focus and zoom rings. Some of the mugs, depending on the brand, even “zoom” when you twist their grip. The mugs are made from plastic with stainless steel lining. They can be an excellent birthday or Christmas gift for anyone who enjoys a clever little product that reflects their profession or hobby. You can fill the mugs with coffee or tea samples or even flowers and give it as Mother’s Day or Father’s Day gift. Size: Nikon 11, Canon 16 oz.

The Kill Time Gun Mug has a great modern design and is ideal for a shot of caffeine in the morning. This interesting mug is designed by the Hong Kong-based design studio ChilliChilly and will look cool on any office desk. It is made from porcelain and the handle on the side looks like a trigger guard with a trigger inside. There is even a faux safety in front of the trigger. The mug is available in black with platinum plated trigger and white with gold plated trigger. The Kill Time makes a fantastic office, birthday or Father’s Day gift for any “Don't talk to me before my morning coffee” person. Size: 7.6 oz.

Original, big and illustrates exactly how many people feel in the morning before their cup of coffee – this is the Face Mug. The ceramic Face Mug is made in China and features a “hungry mouth” cookie shelf which is also great for storing all kind of treats that go with coffee, tea or milk. Also, the heat from the beverage can be used to warm whatever you have tucked in the mouth shelf. The mug can make a nice gift for a quirky colleague or friend or a funny Father’s Day gift. Those who are particularly artistic can even paint the mug with fun designs or different colors. Size: 14 oz.

This irresistible Japanese mug from Decole Otogicco would make a cute and unique gift for almost any tea lover. The mug features a beautiful Little Red Riding Hood design beneath a giant red umbrella-like lid. Under the umbrella shaped lid is a stainless steel tea strainer, perfect for brewing loose tea.

The cute and unique mugs with animal designs form Blue Witch are obviously perfect gift idea for pet lovers. Each mug is hand painted and part of the design is in 3D. Usually the animal’s head sticks out of the mug becoming the most unique handle you have ever had. The company offers collectable mugs with over 120 dog breeds, horses, cats and even wild animals.

They may look like one of those crushed plastic coffee cups that you just throw away, but these mini-cups come with a twist - they are actually ceramic! Originally designed by the Dutch ceramicist Rob Brandt, in 1975, these art pieces are considered pop art. The crinkled cups are available in white, black and bright glossy colors and are ideal for espresso, water and even wine.

The Fistcup from Fred & Friends is another edgy mug with unique design. It is a mix of metal knuckles and a curvy ceramic coffee mug. Although the handle is not ceramic, the construction is very sturdy and it feels like you could actually punch someone in the face with it. Great gift for that Thug in your life! Size: approximately 3 by 5 by 4 inches.

This unique, stacked-up, three-handled mug form Fred & Friends can be a fantastic gift for somebody who loves triple espresso. It looks like tree cups all stacked together but is actually a single porcelain mug that holds 12 fluid ounces. The Stacked Mug is just the kind of thing that will get the conversation going.

Here is a perfect small gift for a golf lover – the Morning Putt Golfers Coffee Mug Gift Set. The set includes a black ceramic mug with arched bottom, a plastic stirrer in the shape of a gold club and a miniature golf ball. This simple and innovative mug will also make a fun office gift because it is great for those never-ending conference calls where you don't have anything to say until the last 5 minutes. Size: 18oz

These whimsical tea/coffee cups designed by Ross McBride are part of the designer’s Anamorphic Series of products. The cups are made from stainless steel with polished mirror finish and the saucers are made from porcelain and printed with distorted words. The words on the saucers can only be viewed correctly though the curved, reflective surface of the cups. The design of the cups is inspired by the anamorphoric paintings which were popular in the 17th century. “Anamorphoric” refers to a distorted image that only appears normal when reflected from a special highly reflective cylinder.

These original tea cups are created by the Taiwanese designer Lee Weilang and at first they look like any typical white ceramic cups. If you look closely, however, you will notice a decorative zipper pattern on the side. The clever zipper pattern is actually designed to keep tea bag strings in place, so the cups are not just unusual, they are functional. The zipper cups are sold in pairs, which makes them a good gift idea for couples, and come with matching fabric zipper coasters.