🏫 Social media is a Free University · The Bunker #128

Apr 22, 2025

I’m writing this newsletter from one of those classic airport lounges, the kind where everyone’s half-asleep, staring through the big glass window as planes come and go. You know the vibe.

I had my laptop on my lap, ready to write... and somehow I found myself scrolling through Twitter and Instagram.

Not to check in on friends or to kill time. I was actually looking for design inspiration, maybe some valuable resource shared by the community, or just trying to stay "in the loop."

But while scrolling, I had a little epiphany: there are people online with huge influence. And yet, I’ve gotten pretty good at not letting what they say (or post) affect me.

Meaning, it wasn’t always like this.

4 or 5 years ago, I used to spend hours on Twitter watching other designers post their projects. I’d see their work and feel like I was falling behind. Like I wasn’t good enough. Like everyone was moving faster than me.

But nowadays? I don’t feel that pressure anymore. I just do my thing. I check social media, sure, but on my terms. And honestly? I think that’s the healthiest way to approach it.

And that’s what I wanted to talk to you about today.

I know many of you reading this newsletter are designers who are just getting started (I know from the kind of DMs I receive). And I also know that when you're starting out, it's easy to feel like you need to be super active on Twitter and LinkedIn. That you have to build an audience, network, post constantly, and keep up with everyone else.

But here's the truth: being a good designer has nothing to do with how loud you are on social media.

In fact, the more you rely on that external validation, the more disconnected you might become from your own process. And the deeper you fall into the trap of FOMO.

The best way to get better at design? Practice. Nothing fancy. Just good, focused, real work. At your pace, not someone else’s.

Because the thing is, you don’t really know what’s behind that perfect Dribbble shot or that viral tweet. You don’t see the late nights, the countless revisions, the self-doubt, the burnout. You only see the final result, shiny, polished, curated.

So sure, use social media as a tool. Learn from others. Get inspired. But be mindful. Choose who you follow. Curate your feed like you’d curate your workspace.

Treat social media like a free university, but make sure you’re learning from the right professors. You gotta follow the right people.

And I say this as someone who spent 4 years at a design university in Barcelona. Trust me, a well-curated Twitter feed has sometimes taught me more than entire semesters.

Take care of your focus. It’s your most valuable asset.

By the way, if you're looking for real tools to grow your design career off social media, I've built a few:

Koala UI: A design system in Figma made to speed up your workflow and help you focus on solving real problems. koalaui.com
Freelance Bundle: Templates, books, and guides to help you thrive as a freelance designer. espinosa.gumroad.com

Take a look. One of these might be just what you need to get back into the flow, without the algorithm whispering in your ear.

Talk soon ✌️

Jordi.

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