The Design Brief

 So you want to make the jump from full-time agency work or in-house designer to launch off into your own full-time freelance gig as a graphic designer. ► Click the link below to learn about the Design Business kit...

► ► ► Get the Design Business Kit ---   https://bengkaiser.com/design-business-kit

► Click here to download the Design Business Checklist!

     ( http://bit.ly/designbusinesschecklist )

Join the Facebook Group --- https://www.facebook.com/groups/168607760737937/

I have worked for non-profits, agencies, as an in-house designer, as well as freelance over my career as a graphic designer and I want to help you build a road map to transition from your full-time job to your freelancing gig dreams. 

The reason for making this video? This is a question I get A LOT in my facebook group, the design brief.

Ben, I want to start my own freelance gig, but I don’t know where to start. I don’t know how to get clients. Should I just launch off right now---sink or swim?

Well, Depending on your current circumstances I want to dive into these questions and help you build your road map.

The most common situation I come across is graphic designers working full-time design jobs at agencies, in-house, consulting, publishers, marketers, etc… The main design gigs.

They get some work on the side here and there from friends, family, and a few friends recommending their friends. But this never quite takes off because they only do the work when it comes in, charges a few bucks to buy the new Supremes (as Gary Vee would say). 

So, they think, yeah freelancing is cool, but not sustainable. Then they get to a point where they are tired of designing for someone else. They start to get wind of how much their boss is charging for the projects that they are doing, but they are only getting paid $XXXXX.

This is where the gears start to turn and they want a piece of that bigger pie. 

What most designers know, but don’t actively consider is this… 

The reason the agency can charge so much comes down to three things:

Experience

Exposure

Reputation

So you want to start freelancing as a graphic designer? Have you stopped to think about a few crucial elements in that desire? Let's talk about it. ► Click the link below to learn about the Design Business kit...

► ► ► Get the Design Business Kit ---   https://bengkaiser.com/design-business-kit

► Click here to download the Design Business Checklist!

      ( http://bit.ly/designbusinesschecklist )

Join the Facebook Group --- https://www.facebook.com/groups/168607760737937/

Whenever someone joins The Design Brief facebook group I always ask a series of questions. "What are your goals as a graphic designer?" is one of those questions.

Without a doubt, 60% - 75% of people coming into the group say,  "I want to start freelancing". They have been working in an agency job, they are just finishing up college, or they have picked up a few clients and they want to make freelancing their full-time thing!

I then go on to ask them if they have a niche or focus that they want to promote and double down on to start their graphic design business.

Next, I ask them if they have a solid/organized business structure for their freelance business. I am not talking about an LLC, a sole proprietorship, or some killer tax structure.

I am specifically talking about the bones of their business. Having a good project management system, knowing how to make contracts and agreements, or having an automated email system.

Most of the time when I ask these questions people say, "No, I don't".

It was very interesting to me because this is something I had been working on for the past 5+ years was developing a system for my business. 

Many people have terrible relationships (communication wise) with their clients. It wastes a lot of time and money. So why do they continue to live in the waste of time?

Because it is the only way they know how to run their growing "Business".

My solution? The graphic design business kit!

Check it out if you want to get a jump start are structuring your business the correct way and save yourself 1000s of hours.

► ► ► Get the Design Business Kit ---   https://bengkaiser.com/design-business-kit

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The Design Business Kit has officially launched and I am excited to talk to you today about structuring your graphic design business. ► Click the link below to learn more about the Design Business Kit

► ► ► Get the Design Business Kit ---   https://bengkaiser.com/design-business-kit

► Click here to download the Design Business Checklist!

      ( http://bit.ly/designbusinesschecklist )

There are so many things I found when I was getting my business started that I wasn't prepared for...

Client communications can be a real struggle when starting a graphic design business, and as an example, I want to tell you a quick story.

When I was first started working with clients I felt very disorganized and truly out of sorts. 

One day I picked up a call from a client who was asking about some revisions he sent over. I ignorantly told him I saw his message and the changes would be made asap, thinking I would find his message, but I never did. 

So I had to call the client back, tell him I lost his message and that I needed him to resend. VERY UNPROFESSIONAL!

Needless to say, client communication within a graphic design business is extremely time consuming and can be frustrating. That is why I think it is crucial when starting and structuring your graphic design business to make sure you have a system in place to handle client revisions and communications.

So I went on a pursuit to make a change in my business.

I needed to fine tune my graphic design business in order to become systemized, organized, and efficient with my time and money.

There are a lot of great tools out there for project management, but what I found (personally as a graphic designer) is that these tools were either too robust and cumbersome or to simple and unhelpful.

I needed a system that was tailored to my work as a designer.

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In this video, I want to talk about some essential aspects when starting a graphic design business. If you want to snag the Design Business Kit click the link below!...

► ► ►  https://bengkaiser.com/design-business-kit

What the entire Live Stream at --- https://youtu.be/P6ihnJV2JtI

Whether you are just getting out of college or you have been in the industry for a while and want to take the plunge on starting your own graphic design business there are few things I want to talk about today that I found extremely important!

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In this video/post we are going to do a deep dive into the ASUS ROG Strix 2 GL704 from a graphic designers perspective to see if this laptop is a great 17in option for you as a graphic designer.

►►► Get the Strix or Strix II - Don't miss it below...

⏩ ASUS ROG Strix Scar II

► ► CUKUSA - http://bit.ly/2NxNC8L

► ► Amazon - https://amzn.to/2NxiN41

The guys over at Computer Upgrade Kings are awesome and hooked us up with a Discount Code for the Strix II. Definitely head on over there to snag one of these machines! ► Discount Code: “ben3”

If you are a graphic designer, motion designer, or video editor than you are looking in the right place for a new graphic design laptop. It is important to select a laptop with the correct specs, build, and usability to ensure you have a machine that will serve you well in your workday.

While reviewing the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 2 I looked at 4 specific areas that will help you decide if the Strix II is a good laptop for you. The 4 areas I always observe are experience, usability, performance, and build quality. If these 4 areas match your needs then you are ready to pull the trigger and invest in the Strix 2. 

My name is Ben Kaiser I have been in the graphic design industry for barely under a decade now and I love the tech side of design as much as the creative side. It is my goal with my blog and YouTube channel to help equip other graphic designers with the tools, tech, and tips to get started or maximize the success in the graphic design industry.

This laptop totes the same processor as the original Strix. This setup is fantastic for graphic design as it allows great workflow. The processor, RAM, SSD, and Hard Drive will empower your efficiency. 

Processor: Intel Core i7-8750H

RAM: 16GB DDR4

Hard Drive: 512GB SSD (boot & storage)

Graphics Processing Unit: NVIDIA RTX 2070

The processor and the RAM combination are perfect for graphic design. Plenty of power to run multiple programs at the same time and have fantastic load and save times in the standard graphic design Adobe software: Photoshop, Indesign, and Illustrator.

With the Strix II you have the entire machine run off of the SSD and the storage on the SSD. This will give you a far more powerful reliable machine!

Now I will quickly address the GPU If you are a graphic designer interested in getting into motion design, multi-media design, or video editing with 4k footage then the Strix II is a fantastic buy. Simply put, it has far faster rending time and far better playback than previous generations of GPUs like the GTX 1050 and the GTX 1070. These two things will save you time and frustration. On a few tests, I ran there was a substantial amount of time saved. Nearly 2 hours was saved by choosing the Strix II with the RTX 2070 over one of the prior generation GPUs.

I hope this review has been helful in your buying decision!

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The ASUS ROG Strix and Strix II which computer is right for you as either a graphic designer, motion designer, or video editor 

►►► Get the Strix or Strix II - Don't miss it below...

⏩ ASUS ROG Strix Scar II

► ► CUKUSA - http://bit.ly/2NxNC8L

► ► Amazon - https://amzn.to/2NxiN41

The guys over at Computer Upgrade Kings are awesome and hooked us up with a Discount Code for the Strix and the Strix II. Definitely head on over there to snag one of these machines! - ben3

⏩ ASUS ROG Strix Scar

► ► CUKUSA - http://bit.ly/2BUPALI

► ► Amazon - https://amzn.to/2TgG3J2

If you have any further questions please reach out to me in the comments section on YouTube or send me a twitter message through the links below.

DISCLAIMER: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. This help support the channel and allows us to continue to make videos like this. Thank you for the support!

In this video, I will be split testing the NVIDIA GTX 1070 Vs the RTX 2070 graphics processing unit for graphic design, video editing, and creatives alike. ►►► Get the Strix or Strix II - Don't Miss It below...

Do you need a powerful GPU for graphic design or video editing?

⏩ ASUS ROG Strix Scar II NVIDIA RTX 2070

 ► CUKUSA - http://bit.ly/2NxNC8L

 ► Amazon - https://amzn.to/2NxiN41

⏩ Discount Code for Computer Upgrade Kings - ben3

⏩ ASUS ROG Strix Scar NVIDIA GTX 1070

 ► CUKUSA - http://bit.ly/2BUPALI

 ► Amazon - https://amzn.to/2TgG3J2

There is a ton of content out there for gamers and laptops that are best for gaming, but when it comes to video editing and benchmark testing there is not A LOT. There is some, no doubt, but not the mass quantity you find within the gaming niche.

When I jump around the internet there is quite a bit to be said about the NVIDIA Geforce GTX 1070 and the RTX 2070 as it relates to gaming, but very little about the performance states for video editing. 

So that is why I am here. Let’s jump in getting down to the details on the things that we as creatives are or should be concerned about when it comes to the Graphics Processing Units within our machines. 

First of all my main area of expertise is graphic design with complementary skills in video production so if I miss any details that you want/need to know about the battle between these two GPUs please don’t hesitate to reach out in the comments below!

Second, I will be using the ASUS ROG Strix and the Strix II as the computers featuring the GTX 1070 and the RTX 2070. If you are interested in these models you can snag a link in the description below to get two-day shipping on Amazon, or head on over to Computer Upgrades Kings with the discount code “ben3” to get a discount on any computer over on Computer Upgrade Kings including the two I am featuring in this video!

Let’s dive into the content. Deciding if the GTX 1070 of the RTX 2070 is right for you.

First off there is a substantial difference in pricing when it comes to purchasing the GPU outright, but when we look at the laptop comparison (Click Here…. And Here) there is not a large difference in pricing so you may think, well, then why not just go for the RTX?!

Well, perhaps your money could be, or could not be spent somewhere else. That is what we are about to find out.

So enjoy the video and dive into the comment section if you have any questions!

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This video has been a long time coming! I will be presenting the best laptops under 1000 dollars for graphic designers.

►►► Full List of Laptops Below - Don't Miss It!

I have had a lot of you asking questions about the laptops on a budget. I have found that the "budget" for most designers is under $1000.

► HP Pavilion X360 ( https://amzn.to/2BBfe8a )

► Acer Aspire 5 ( https://amzn.to/2X19LAM )

► ASUS VivoBook S 15 ( https://amzn.to/2E7HP6U )

► Lenovo Yogo 710 ( https://amzn.to/2Swosxf )

► Dell G3 17in ( https://amzn.to/2E8TeDm )

► ► ► Best Laptops for Graphic Designers 

     ( https://youtu.be/mBP_JliTReE )

Now, I must say this is a VERY difficult thing to come by because there are certain performance specs you need to be satisfied with your laptop as a designer. So I recommend these laptops with a certain degree of caution. I often will steer people towards slightly more expensive laptops because I know they will be far more satisfied with their purchase in the long run.

However, I have received numerous questions about specific laptops and peoples interest with finding a laptop under $1000, so I thought it was due time to create this post. I appreciate these questions because this helps me understand what you are looking for and how I can better help you on your journey in graphic design or other design fields.

Disclaimer: these are NOT my absolute top favorite most fantastic picks just so you know.  These are laptops that I think are well enough equipped to handle the ins and outs of graphic design, but are not my top-rated machines. "Then why would I recommend them", you may ask. Well, because not everyone has the budget to get the best of the best, so I wanted to give a guide to those people on a budget but still ready to jump into graphic design.

If you are curious about my Best Laptops for Graphic Design then you can check out the video at this link... 

► Best Laptops for Graphic Designers ( https://youtu.be/mBP_JliTReE )

Alright without further stagnation, let's jump into the content! What is a great computer made of from the inside out?

Your Laptop should have at least 8GB of RAM in order to run multiple applications at the same time. I would not recommend ANYTHING LESS than 8GB. Most laptops have the option to upgrade the RAM. If you are going to be investing in a new machine for your graphic design career you should definitely start with at least 8GB and consider moving up to 16GB when your budget allows.

The Intel i7 processor is still my benchmark processor inside of laptops for graphic design. But most budget laptops come with an Intel i5 processor. The i5 will run the Adobe Creative Cloud applications well, but be careful not to have too many tasks open at one time as this will cause your computer to slow down. There are budget computers that come with even smaller processors. Avoid these. You will be very dissatisfied with the performance. This is NOT a sales ploy, just the facts from a graphic designer with 10+ years at the craft.

I would highly recommend trying to purchase a laptop with an SSD (Solid State Drive). The reason being? It adds speed and readability to your computer. When you own a solid state hard drive there are ZERO moving parts. This means that there are far fewer opportunities to malfunction. Trust me you don't want your computer to crash in the middle of

I highlight the 2019 best laptops for graphic designers looking to enter the graphic design field. Graphic design is a hot topic, what do you need to become a successful graphic designer?

►►► Full List of Laptops Below - Don't Miss It!

⏩ Submit a question in the form below for me to answer on YouTube 

      ( http://bit.ly/2KGVwK4 )

► Best Budget Laptop for Graphic Designers and Design Students

    ( https://youtu.be/A-7daLniRT0 )

► Top 4 Best Desktop Computers for Graphic Designers

    ( https://youtu.be/ngah0Z8MzN4 )

2019 Best Laptops for Graphic Designers

► Surface Book 2 ( https://amzn.to/2Dmn6KK )

► Huawei Matebook X Pro ( https://amzn.to/2GtEzEo )

► Predator Helios 300 ( https://amzn.to/2MTO3tK )

► Dell XPS 15 ( https://amzn.to/2Ghn36d )

► Macbook Pro 15 ( https://amzn.to/2GhAYZX )

► HP Omen ( https://amzn.to/2tfqv9y )

When running multiple Adobe products as a graphic designer at the same time on your laptop you will begin to see the laptop slow down if you do not have the right requirements. I list out in this video the 2019 best laptops for graphic designers to handle any job you can throw at them.

#BenGKaiser 2019Laptops #GraphicDesignLaptops  #GraphicDesignGear #GraphicDesignYouTuber

I receive a lot of questions about what are the best tools and resources. Here are some of the top questions:

- 2019 Best Laptops for Graphic Designers

- Mac vs PC for Graphic Designers?

- Mac vs windows for Graphic Designers?

- What is the best laptop for Graphic Designers?

- What are the top laptops for Graphic Designers?

- What is the best laptop for Graphic Designers?

- How to choose the right laptop for Graphic Designers?

- Best Laptops for Graphic Designers 2019

- How to pick the best laptop for graphic designers

I have spent time researching and informing you about the graphic design industry, and I will continue to do so with practical, informative content that doesn't weigh you down with all the jargon. Today I want to touch on what gear you need to become a well-outfitted graphic designer with the best laptop.

1 ) Microsoft Surface Book 2

- Vibrant PixelSense Display

- 16 GB

- 256 Solid State Drive

- 8th Generation Intel Core i7

- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 discrete GPU w/6GB GDDR5 Graphics Memory

2 ) Huawei Matebook X Pro

- 8th Gen Intel Core i7 8550U processor

- 16GB RAM

- 512GB SSD storage

- NVIDIA GeForce MX150

3 ) Acer Predator Helios 300

This computer is simply beyond reason. Pack with power. Ready to handle whatever data job you can throw at it. You won't be disappointed with this machine one bit! Great Budget!

- Display: 15.6" Full HD

- Processor: Intel 6-Core i7-8750H

- Graphics Card: NVIDIA's GTX 1060 6GB

- RAM: 16GB

- Hard Drive: 256GB SSD

4 ) Dell XPS 15

- Display: 15.6 UHD 4k

- Processor: 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8750H

- Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 8G GDDR5

- RAM: 32GB (16GB x 2) DDR4 2666MHz

- Hard Drive: 1TB SSD

5 ) MacBook Pro

- 2.2 GHz 6-core Intel Core i7 processor

- Radeon Pro 555X or 560X graphics with 4GB of video memory

- 16GB RAM

- 512GB Solid State Drive

- Retina Display with True Tone Technology

In this video, I want to walk you through how to create a graphic design portfolio website. As well as, should you create a graphic design portfolio website. ⏩ Hostgator Discount code and Design Checklist below!

► Host Gator Discount Code - http://bit.ly/bengkaiserhostgator

► Click here to download the Design Business Checklist!

     ( http://bit.ly/designbusinesschecklist )

In this video, I want to answer a few questions that I run into a lot with design students and professional designers alike:

- Why create a graphic design portfolio website

- Should I create a graphic design portfolio website?

- How to create a graphic design portfolio website.

- Do I need a graphic design portfolio website?

- Should I build a graphic design website?

- Is it worth it to build a website for graphic designers?

- How to build a graphic design website.

There are a many more questions and inquires, but the former help you to get the gist of what this video is all about!

Why should you be creating a graphic design portfolio website?

Whether you are still in school, looking for a job, in a job, or wanting to go out on your own full time as a freelancer an online portfolio is crucial!

What is the purpose of a Graphic Design Portfolio Website

You need to show people your portfolio and you have far more control over your site.

IF you are talking with potential clients you can easily drop a link to your website and they can review your work.

Professionalism: Having your own website speaks as a level of professionalism like owning a storefront rather than a hot dog stand.

What kind of website can you build

1. FULLY Coded website

2. Wordpress (Semi Involved Design and URL

3. Square Space, Wix, and Weebly

Custom Domain Name/URL - I use Hostgator

I like there product a lot. I have had great experiences with their live chat online support. They are very responsive to my questions and I have always had my websites live online (No downed sites - I have 6 websites on a “Baby” account).

You need to try and get .com (I know other URLs are becoming more popular, but most people assume a website is a .com. If you are unable to secure .com with your name or preferred business name then go for something that makes sense. 

Why should you have a domain name when EVERYONE is telling you to promote your work on social media. It is important to show up with a booth at a convention, but that convention could be here and gone. If you have your own website, no matter what platform you are using to do your promotions and networking you will always have an online presence.

START A BLOG. When it comes to graphic design clients these days they are looking for something more than a good looking logo cheap logo. They can go to Fiverr for that. The reason they are looking for a professional designer is about know how to tell a story with your work and you should have a SOLID understanding of the philosophy and practice of design.

With that in mind, writing a SOLID About Me page, AND/OR having a blog, which it is the route I chose to pursue, allows people to really get to know what you believe and the work you produce as a designer.

Hostgator link below to get you a discount on your hosting and domain name.

Also, don’t miss the free Graphic design business checklist in order to make sure you are starting off on the right foot to get your graphic design business kicked off!

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►►► ( https://www.patreon.com/bengkaiser