Whether you’re working on your next project or gaming with high refresh rates and gorgeous graphics, the best laptops provide powerful performance, plenty of storage to hold your files and enough RAM to run your must-have AI applications. To determine the best laptops, my tech team and I tested more than 20 models. After over 100 hours of testing, our panelists unanimously named the as the best laptop you can purchase today. It has intuitive software, a crisp display and reliable, fast processing. If Apple’s MacOS ecosystem doesn’t quite suit your needs, we also found the to have an excellent balance of portability and power. Here are the best laptops you can buy today, for different types of consumers and use cases.
A Sleek Design
Our testers found the to be the best laptop overall. It’s elegantly simple in design—one tester called it “streamlined and gorgeous.” Its display opens easily with a single hand, and the slim and lightweight construction makes it simple to pack for a commuter or frequent traveler. The backlit keys have a satisfying tactile response and are relatively quiet, too. Whether you choose the 13-inch or 15-inch model, the Liquid Retina display renders colors faithfully, offers excellent contrast and has sharp image quality. We recommend the 13-inch model for most users.
Plenty Of Processing Power, And Many Storage Options
Depending on the configuration you choose, the MacBook Air comes with 16GB, 24GB or 32GB of unified memory (which includes RAM). Our configuration uses 16GB, which is enough for most users. During testing, our testers opened eight data-hungry websites in separate tabs; one tester said the device “easily handles all sites, with no slowdown or lagging of any sort.” It also was one of the longest to last on battery power; after 6.5 hours of 4K video playback, the laptop’s battery was still at 63%. You can get a MacBook Air with as little as 256GB of storage—which is pretty low unless you store most files on the cloud—but you can also opt for 512GB, 1TB or 2TB. For most users, 512GB is enough, but if you plan to work with larger files, opt for a minimum of 1TB.
Connectivity Options Are Lacking
The MacBook Air doesn’t come with a ton of ports: It has two Thunderbolt (USB-C) ports, a 3.5mm audio jack and a charging port, so if you want to connect multiple accessories, plan to invest in a USB hub. Additionally, while the MacBook Air can handle heavy workloads, it can’t handle intensive graphics. It also has a 60Hz refresh rate, so your games and video editing may experience some lag and screen tearing.
Apple’s Signature Design And Functionality For Less
One of Apple’s newest laptops, the starts at $599 and features Apple’s signature sleek look and practical design. Because it runs on the Apple A18 Pro processor—the same chip that powers the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max—it’s built to tackle most everyday tasks, from web browsing and document work to Apple Arcade games and streaming. While we can’t fully recommend it for heavier applications, it’s a great choice for casual users, students and those seeking a Chromebook alternative.
A Bright Display And Robust Battery
The display on the MacBook Neo is delightfully bright, and for the average user, the color and brightness on the display are fine just as they are for most tasks.
The battery life is also impressive. Forbes Vetted consumer tech editor Rebecca Isaacs set it up on a Friday afternoon and worked on the device for several hours over one weekend. Based on her testing, she feels it would probably last five to seven hours away from a socket on a low battery setting.
Thoughtful Ports And Punchy Keys
The Apple MacBook Neo has two USB-C ports on the left-hand side of the laptop, as well as a headphone jack. This combination of ports lets you plug in accessories like a mouse or monitor to up your productivity; however, keep in mind there are no HDMI ports, and you can’t connect more than one monitor to the laptop at a time. So, don’t expect to set up a daisy chain using this model.
As for the keyboard, Isaacs found it to be responsive and punchy. “There’s a bit of a spongy response, but unless you’re coming from a , you’re not going to notice that,” she says. “I also prefer that sponge because, as a hypermobile person whose hands despise most keyboards, I typed a good chunk of the weekend and didn’t experience any hand pain.” Just note that to keep the cost affordable, the keys don’t have a backlight, so it may be difficult to type in the dark.
A Luxe Look And Feel
Our testers chose the as the best premium upgrade laptop pick for its lovely design and powerful features. Our testers praised its sleek, professional look and feel. They found the keyboard comfortable, ergonomic and responsive. The large haptic touchpad isn’t as clearly defined as most laptop trackpads, but it’s responsive, and the large area is very useful after a short learning curve.
A Split-Ready Display, With Balanced Speakers
The Dell XPS 16 Premium Laptop offers a 16.3-inch touch screen that our testers found large enough to use with two windows open side by side. The display features gorgeous color renderings; one tester said, “The images were clear, with no distortions or color degradation, even from the side or from other angles.” The selection of ports is limited in type (Thunderbolt USB-C, 3.5mm audio jack and a MicroSD slot). Still, the configuration we tested offered a powerful processor and an Nvidia graphics card built for video editing.
A Desk-Bound Laptop
While other laptops generally weigh around three pounds, the Dell 16 Premium Laptop weighs 4.6 pounds. It’s also several inches larger than many other laptop models, and our testers felt it may feel a little cumbersome to regularly carry. Plan to leave it on your desk at work or in the home office. The battery life isn’t as strong as other models we tested: It died after 5.5 hours.
Tough And Rugged Design
The doubles as a laptop and a tablet. It features a 14- or 16-inch screen, the larger of which weighs just over 4 pounds. One tester called its build “workmanlike,” adding that it “doesn’t seem to be striving for design awards.” The laptop offers plenty of ports, including a USB-A, two Thunderbolt USB-C, a headphone jack, an HDMI port and a MicroSD card slot.
All About The Screen
The configuration we recommend comes with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage capacity. If you prefer, you can opt for 512GB of storage. But it’s the display that’s the draw here. Our testers loved it, saying it was “large enough to multitask, watch videos, stream a show or movie.” Even when dimmed to 33% brightness, it was easy to read text and view images and videos. Its battery life is also stellar: After over six hours of 4K video playback, it still had 46% life left.
Keys Could Be Snappier
In tablet orientation, the screen is highly responsive to both touch commands and to a stylus. As a laptop, most testers found the keys mushy. All of our testers had challenges folding the Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 from laptop to tablet orientation. You need to use two hands when repositioning this device.
A Lightweight Build And A Near-Infinity Display
The was our testers’ favorite gaming laptop, with its great combination of power and a lightweight build that’s easy to carry your favorite games with you. Despite the 16-inch display, our testers felt it was light enough to carry around most days for traveling or commuting. The rugged yet sleek build also boasts thin bezels, which go almost to the edge of the laptop display. “Its thin bezel maximizes screen size, and it has a semi-futuristic feel to it,” one tester said. The screen has bright, true colors and deep shadows and contrasts, and it gets plenty bright for viewing at 50% brightness. The 240Hz refresh rate impressed our testers; one said games offer a “remarkably smooth experience, with vivid detail.”
Hardware And Refresh Rates Are Impressive
The laptop can be configured with up to 64GB of RAM to handle the heaviest games and applications, and you can opt for up to 2TB of SSD storage, which is plenty to take a library of games with you. That said, we opted for 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, which is good enough for most gamers. The laptop also uses an Nvidia GeForce RTX graphics card, and you can expect lovely graphics—though if you prefer 4K graphics, opt for a configuration with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 graphics card or higher. While the device warms during gameplay, it’s not hot enough to require a laptop cooling pad to manage thermals, according to our testers. The speakers deliver plenty of bass power and decent mids and highs, so you can game without a dedicated gaming headset.
Some Bloatware
While the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 features plenty of impressive components, our testers found the machine comes with some bloatware preinstalled, including third-party apps. There are some applications that are useful, like the Asus Armoury Crate, which controls the keyboard’s RGB lighting. However, the antiviral software is spammy and can be easily uninstalled for a smoother, more intuitive experience. While it also lasted around seven hours on a single charge, that was when playing 4K video content. If you’re gaming, it will last significantly less.
Light Build, But Powerful
You might think that a laptop weighing just 2.7 pounds would have to make some compromises, but the bucks that trend. It features 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, and its Intel Core Ultra 7 processor is plenty fast, handling most applications with ease. Only one of our testers experienced any noticeable lagging when this computer had eight data-hungry sites open; for everyone else, it was fast and responsive. And while the computer got a bit warm during our testing, its fans were whisper-quiet.
Excellent OLED Display
Our testers felt the display showcased colors and detail really well; the OLED display produces vivid color, and light blooming is nonexistent. Our testers noted its crisp, clear picture. “Colors looked good and bright on the 3K OLED display,” one tester said, adding that it handles shadows and contrasts perfectly. “While the whites could stand to be a little more pronounced, the display is still capable of producing surprisingly deep blacks, especially with HDR enabled,” our tester added. After over six hours of video playback, the laptop still had 39% battery life left, too.
Weak Speakers
The speakers, unfortunately, left our testers unimpressed. One tester went so far as to call them “horrid,” while another noted, “The bass is barely there. These would get drowned out in a louder space.” If you plan to work anywhere besides your home office, connect a pair of wireless headphones or earbuds.
Informed Hardware Design
The was built with content creators in mind. The physical design of the MacBook Pro impressed our testers for its gorgeous build. One of our panelists noted that it’s “slightly heavier-duty than the MacBook Air, featuring a hinge that opens easily one-handed and positions smoothly.” Our testers also loved the “weightier, crisper keys and a larger, textured, yet responsive trackpad.”
An Eye-Catching Display
While it comes in a 14-inch or 16-inch option, our testers felt the 14-inch display is good enough for most needs, and it shows colors in lifelike fidelity and crispness. There’s a catch, though: Set too much below 33% brightness, and the Liquid Retina display starts to lose some clarity, color and contrast quality; set at 66% brightness and above, though, and this computer excels in color reproduction and contrast.
Impressive Processing Power
Of all the laptops we tested, the MacBook Pro was the strongest processor we benchmarked, and by an impressive margin, too. If you upgrade to the 16-inch MacBook Pro, it can offer up to 128GB of unified memory (which includes RAM) for running intensive AI applications. But for most, our current configuration recommendation—the Apple M4 Max chip with 36GB of unified memory and 1TB of storage—will suffice. Our testers found that this laptop can handle everything you throw at it with ease.
Overkill For Most Users
Because this laptop is so powerful, unless you’re working regularly with video editing, CAD projects and other intensive applications, the MacBook Pro is most likely overkill for your needs. But for content creators, this is the laptop to consider.
Retro Or Outdated Design, Depending On Your Take
The ’s design split our testers. One tester described it as looking wildly dated and “from the 1990s,” while another called the laptop “sleek and nondescript; very utilitarian.” Our testers also noted that fingerprints easily leave marks on the chassis. While it features a red TrackPoint (also known as a pointing stick) on the keyboard, which serves as a quick mouse replacement, our testers found this hardware finicky at times.
Slim But Capable
The laptop weighs 2.2 pounds, and it’s only a bit more than half an inch thick, yet it has a lot of power under the hood. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 comes with 32GB of RAM. It also sports the Intel Core Ultra 5 or Ultra 7, which is enough processing power for most needs. If you work with large files and opt for the 2TB of storage space, you can take all of your data on the go. But for most, 1TB storage is enough.
A Decent Display For Most Users
The 14-inch screen isn’t quite big enough to have two windows side by side, but it’s great for focusing on a primary task. Our testers found the display crisp, and with true colors and contrast in a bright room, even with the screen’s brightness set to just 33%. What our testers found surprising is that this computer’s refresh rate is just 60Hz (though it can go up to 120Hz). Expect some pixelation and screen tearing if you work with video-editing software or have a lot of power-hungry tasks running simultaneously; this happened to several testers. However, if you’re using it for work and not gaming, you won’t notice too much. Our testing also found the battery lasted about 3.5 hours away from a socket while playing 4K content.
Compact But A Bit Cramped
The is compact and basic but reliable; it’s the ideal laptop for someone working with document creation and other light work projects. Our testers described the Microsoft Surface as “sleek” and “sturdy.” While they noted its lightweight build, they also shared it was “narrower and smaller than the Apple MacBook Air,” which made their fingers feel cramped when typing. They found the keys too small and closely spaced for long periods of comfortable use.
A Decent Display
The Microsoft Surface Laptop we tested had a 13-inch touch screen, which our panelists found large enough for casual video viewing and for focusing on a primary task; one even said they could likely have a second window open for note-taking. The display felt plenty bright even at just 33% brightness, with faithful color reproduction and decent darks and contrasts. “Images feel incredibly sharp and clear, with no noticeable signs of distortion,” noted one tester.
Passable Processing
While our testers found it easy to navigate around this computer’s interface, a few discovered issues once multiple websites were opened simultaneously. One described video lagging once multiple sites were open, while another found some “choppiness” as video clips or data-intensive sites loaded. After a few seconds, however, each site was working well, and the delays and glitching went away. You can’t play an intense video game on this computer due to its memory and refresh rate. For work purposes, the Surface Laptop suffices, especially if Windows is your preferred OS.
Other Laptops We Tested
While our top picks above represent the best laptops you can find, we tested several other models that still deserve consideration. Here are the other devices we tested that our tech team recommends.
Other Laptops We Recommend
- Best Lightweight Gaming Laptop: (Forbes Vetted score: 4.3/5 stars): The Razer Blade 14 features a gorgeous OLED screen that gets bright enough for gaming, though it skews toward cooler colors. Our testers found it was slim and lightweight, and they appreciated its sleek look as well as the keyboard’s built-in RGB lighting. One downside our testers noted were the speakers; they were described as muddled and somewhat weak, depending on the genre. One tester said they basically couldn’t hear bass notes, and called the sound overall “high-pitched and whiny.” It’s an excellent gaming laptop, but plan to add a gaming headset or external speakers to your setup.
- Best Upgrade Gaming Laptop: (Forbes Vetted score: 4.5/5 stars): The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 features an impressive build, with 32GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 GPU and a lovely OLED panel. However, while it showcases a lovely display, its size and weight may make it unpleasant to pack in your bag all day; one tester described it as a “heavy beast.” Its cumbersome weight and size make the fact that it’s a laptop almost a moot point. You’re not going to haul this device around wherever you go, but if you’re seeking a large screen or to use it as a gaming desktop replacement, it’s a good option.
- A Desktop Replacement For Gaming: (Forbes Vetted score: 4.5/5 stars): The Dell Alienware 16 Area-51 Gaming Laptop weighs 7.5 pounds and has a large 16-inch display. It also packs one of the most powerful processors currently on the market. Combined with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 graphics card and 64GB of RAM, it can handle literally any game or application you throw at it. Due to its size, it could readily stand in for a desktop computer. One of our testers despised the keyboard, so watch out for the almost oddly widely spaced keys, but again that layout matches a desktop keyboard. Your mileage may vary.
- Best Gaming Laptop Runner-Up: (Forbes Vetted score: 4.3/5 stars): The MSI Vector 16 HX AI A2XW’s design feels so sturdy that one tester joked, “I could drop it, and I’d worry more about the floor than the laptop.” The large high-def display is bright enough for gaming even on low settings, and performance during games like Sonic Mania Plus and Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars looked colorful and accurate. It also features up to a 240Hz refresh rate. That said, our testers noted two minor flaws with the Vector. The design, while sturdy, feels very dated and bulky. There’s also the trackpad. Because the keyboard is offset to the left, someone right-handed may notice their hand may cover the trackpad.
- A Gaming Laptop With A Unique Keyboard: (Forbes Vetted score: 4.3 stars): The MSI Stealth A16 AI+ A3XW features a full-size keyboard with a number pad, which is uncommon in most laptop builds. Our testers loved its OLED display, which produced crisp, bright graphics during gameplay. It also offers a powerful array of chipsets, including an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and a Nvidia GeForce RTX GPU. What this laptop offers that few others have is an Ethernet port, so you can hardwire an internet connection to reduce latency. That said, it only lasted three hours from a charger when playing 4K content.
Others We Tested But Don’t Recommend
The following laptops didn’t pass muster during our testing for various reasons.
- (Forbes Vetted score: 2.5/5 stars): Our testers didn’t feel the Dell 14 Plus Laptop was sleek, saying that it looked, “like a block with rounded corners, and no meaningful attempt to make it attractive.” Its speakers sounded “thin and weak” and the baseplate was wobbly, which our testers felt made typing unpleasant. The actual processing capabilities pass with flying colors, but overall it just didn’t stand out from the pack of other impressive options.
- (Forbes Vetted score: 3.1/5 stars): The HP Omen 16 features plenty of system memory and a strong graphics card. Its audio was perfectly suitable for most needs, too. Our testers felt the display offered passing graphics, but in general, the graphics could have been crisper. However, the biggest issue was the laptop’s design. Our testers universally found the keyboard problematic, with one calling the typing experience “horrid.” Its design also wasn’t as sleek as other laptops tested.
Laptops We’re Testing Next
Because new laptop models come out every year, we’re testing a slew of new models right now. Here are some of the models that have particularly captured our interest.
: One of Lenovo’s thinnest and lightest laptops weighs just over two pounds and features an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, 32GB RAM, up to 2TB of storage and more. For those constantly on the go, the brand claims 15 minutes of charging can last three hours of work. Our tech team is still testing this laptop, and once we’re finished, we’ll share our verdict here.
: For Samsung phone users, the Samsung Galaxy Book 6 Pro laptop may be an appealing option. The brand claims this laptop offers a seamless connection to its Galaxy phones, including instant file sharing, using your phone as a second monitor and more. We are still in the midst of testing, but our tester notes that the “keyboard and screen are both excellent, with a large trackpad, too.” While initial testing looks very promising, our tech team will share a verdict here when it is completed.
: Apple’s latest MacBook was launched in March 2026, alongside the Apple MacBook Neo. It features the new M5 chip which promises faster speeds for processing documents, and according to the brand, can handle AI workloads up to four times faster than the M4 chip. The storage also increases, with a minimum of 512GB and a maximum of 4TB. As we’re still testing, stay tuned for our verdict.
: Like the rest of the Apple MacBook lineup, the Apple MacBook Pro debuted March 2026, adding important hardware upgrades. Now, the M5 Pro and M5 Max chip comes to the MacBook Pro, which like the base M5, promise more powerful processing. We’re testing the M5 Max chip, and we’ll keep you posted on how this new powerful laptop performs.
: The Framework Laptop promises to disrupt the laptop industry thanks to its design: It can be reconfigured, and every laptop the brand ships comes with tools to help you swap out parts depending on your needs. In other words, this laptop promises plenty of future upgradeability, which may help make it a more sustainable, powerful option. We’re testing this laptop in the coming weeks, and will share our verdict here when we complete our tests.
How We Tested The Best Laptops
To test our contenders, we enlisted a dozen testers to test each laptop across a series of different factors. Our tech team considered design, display, audio quality, battery life and more to determine our winners.
Design And Ergonomics
Our testers considered keyboard, trackpad and, where applicable, touch screen responsiveness. We considered features like built-in lighting and backlit keys. Additionally, we paid close attention to the size and weight of each laptop to consider portability.
Display Features
Our testers watched multiple video clips to determine display quality. They reviewed color fidelity, shadow and contrast across multiple brightness settings and noted any quality changes between 33%, 50% and 66% brightness. For gaming laptops, our testers reviewed each game’s graphics quality on the highest settings, noting any pixelation, screen tearing or lagging when applicable.
Audio Quality
Our tech team evaluated each laptop’s speakers using three different songs. We used:
- “The Chain” by Fleetwood Mac
- “Angel” by Massive Attack
- “1812 Overture” by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
These songs gave our testers a well-rounded speaker profile to determine audio quality. As we tested, we considered and noted whether frequencies were balanced as well as any distortion or muddling.
Processing Capacity
To put each computer’s processing capabilities to the test—and even under strain—we simultaneously opened eight websites, all of which featured video clips or constantly updating features, like a live flight tracker. We toggled between each site, engaging with various webpages and looking for any slowing or glitching as they worked. We assessed responsiveness using a combination of everyday tasks (web browsing, multitasking) and heavier workloads (video playback, gaming) to identify lag or thermal issues. We also benchmarked every laptop using Geekbench 6 software and noted each model’s scores to help determine which models featured the most powerful processors.
How To Choose The Best Laptop For Your Needs
To determine what kind of laptop is best suited to your needs, decide “which tasks are mission critical,” says Jeremy Rambarran, director of campus and clinical IT services at Touro University. Portability, battery life and keyboard comfort matter more for students, travelers and remote workers, while display quality, processing power and thermal performance are higher priorities for creative professionals and engineers. Gamers must “weigh refresh rate, GPU performance and cooling design,” he says, while business users should consider “durability, security features and docking support.”
You don’t need to chase the maximum specs across the board, either; instead, consider your budget and current needs. Once you’ve identified those factors, look for a laptop encompassing the features that directly affect workflow or gameplay. Here are the areas to consider.
Operating System
Most laptops run Windows, the operating system that offers the widest compatibility with software, accessories and hardware across daily use. However, power Apple users should consider macOS, which is known for its stability and tight integration across Apple devices. Keep in mind that macOS users may find some programs and tools to have limited availability or require workarounds compared to Windows.
Processor
The processor, also known as a CPU, handles everyday tasks like running apps, managing your operating system and keeping everything responsive. If you frequently juggle multiple programs, spreadsheets or data-heavy software, a more powerful processor makes a noticeable performance difference.
Currently, two processor makers dominate the market: AMD and Intel. They’re both measured in numbers; the higher the number, which can reach as high as a 9 series, the more powerful the chipset. AMD fans should consider the AMD Ryzen 7 and above, and Intel fans should opt for an Intel Core 7 series or higher. The 5 series of AMD and Intel chipsets suits for casual users.
Graphics Card
Your graphics card, also known as a GPU, determines how your games look and perform. For gamers and creative users, this chipset is top priority; it directly affects your game’s frame rates and smoothness. Currently, tech giant Nvidia is king of the graphics cards market. Most gamers can opt for and enjoy the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 or the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070. Those who prefer to optimize their gaming setup for the future or plan to work with heavy graphics applications should consider the the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 or the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090, which can run higher resolutions with ease.
Memory
Memory, or RAM, helps determine how smoothly your laptop can multitask or run multiple apps and browser tabs simultaneously. Jason Chen, technical director of JarnishTech, recommends that “16GB should be your minimum.” It’s enough for daily tasks such web browsing and lighter projects. Power users—such as gamers, video editors or 3D modelers—should consider 32GB or more.
Storage
Storage determines how many files, apps and games your laptop can hold. A 512GB SSD storage is a reasonable starting point, especially if you rely heavily on cloud storage. However, if you work with large files, download games or store videos locally, upgrading to 1TB or 2TB of storage offers much more flexibility.
Screen Size, Laptop Weight And Dimensions
If you often need two windows open side by side, a 14-inch screen is the smallest you should even consider, but a 16-inch display gives you a larger working space. Keep in mind that a larger display also means you may carry around a bigger, heavier laptop. “If you commute often, prioritize a lightweight, portable design rather than a large screen,” says Cameron Prockiw, founder of Nerder. If your laptop primarily stays on a desk, then you may be able to consider a larger laptop.
Ports And Inputs
If you plan to connect all your peripherals—a mouse, a webcam, an extra monitor and more—you may want to consider more ports for your setup. Look for a laptop with at least two USB-C and/or Thunderbolt ports, but don’t forget about USB-A, which is still quite common. If you plan to connect your laptop to a monitor or portable monitor, make sure you look for an HDMI connection, which will help you add additional displays. An Ethernet port can help maintain a stable internet connection, which can be a boon for gamers or for streaming video.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
The Forbes Vetted tech team has published dozens of tech and electronic guides that feature our hands-on testing and research, including plenty of articles about computers.
- This article was written by former Forbes Vetted staff writer Steven John, who primarily covers gear and tech. He helped prepare the laptop testing project and personally evaluated many of the computers featured here. John has also covered tablets, digital picture frames and 55-inch TVs.
- Forbes Vetted consumer tech and electronics editor Rebecca Isaacs updated this guide. In addition to her updates, Isaacs also oversaw the laptop testing project. She’s also authored multiple laptop buying guides, including gaming laptops, and rigorously tested the Apple MacBook Neo, the current value pick.
- New laptops are released throughout the year, while older models may go out of stock. To keep this story fresh, we reviewed our current picks to make sure we still stand by them, and added laptop models we’re testing next. We also refreshed our buying advice.
Our Experts
- Jason Chen, technical director with
- , director of campus and clinical IT services at
- , founder of , a coding agency for creative firms