The Dreamineer

About

The Designer Behind The Journey

I’m Ricardo, and I’ve been building my design career since I was 20’s.

No university degree. No design school pedigree. Just 16 years of figuring it out as I go.

Image of RIcardo Costa The Dreamineer

I started in customer service and call centers while studying, then landed an internship that changed everything. Seven years in one company—climbing from customer support to marketing, teaching myself design along the way.

Then two years at an advertising agency learning the craft properly.

For the past 8 years, I’ve been a UX Designer at a tech company, working on an artificial intelligence project. Every day, I’m not just using AI tools—I’m designing AI experiences, understanding how this technology actually works, and seeing firsthand how it’s reshaping our industry.

The Side Hustle That Opened My Eyes

Four years ago, I started a YouTube channel teaching Photoshop, Figma, and design fundamentals. Started with terrible lighting, questionable camera quality, and my “magnificent English” that I was brave enough to put on the internet.

That channel is now monetized and generates four figures annually. Not life-changing money, but proof that peer-to-peer teaching works—even when you’re learning yourself.

(Yes, I absolutely started it hoping to make money. Anyone who says otherwise is lying.)

I’ve worked across industries, from startups to established companies, building products and solving design challenges. But like many of us in this field, I’m facing something completely new: AI is reshaping everything we thought we knew about design.

Instead of pretending I have all the answers, I decided to do what designers do best—document the process.

Why The Dreamineer Exists

I’m not an AI expert. I’m not a business guru. I’m a designer with 16 years of experience who’s figuring out how to adapt, evolve, and thrive in an AI-powered world—and I’m sharing every step of that journey.

This isn’t about teaching you what I’ve mastered. It’s about learning alongside you.

Every week, I test new AI tools, experiment with workflows, navigate career questions, and document what actually works (and what doesn’t). Then I share those insights with fellow designers who are asking the same questions:

  • How do I stay relevant when AI can design?
  • Which tools actually improve my work vs. just add complexity?
  • How do I position my career for the next decade?
  • What should I tell clients about AI in my process?

My Anti-Guru Philosophy

The design world doesn’t need another “AI expert” selling certainties about an uncertain future. It needs peer support.

I believe in:

  • Transparent learning over polished expertise
  • Practical frameworks over theoretical concepts
  • Career guidance from someone in the trenches
  • Community insight over individual authority

The Portugal Advantage

Based in Portugal, I can offer international-quality insights and eventual courses at accessible prices. But more importantly, I’m outside the Silicon Valley echo chamber—seeing AI adoption from a practical, global design perspective.

What You Get Here

Weekly Documentation: My genuine learning process, mistakes included Practical Frameworks: Career tools tested on real projects and real challenges
Peer Insights: LinkedIn articles expanded into deeper career strategy Community Connection: Fellow designers supporting each other through industry changes

This isn’t about following me. It’s about us navigating this transformation together.

Let’s Learn Together

I publish my learning journey every week—the wins, the fails, and the practical insights that actually move the needle for working designers.

Ready to learn alongside me?

https://ricardocostadesign.substack.com/embed

Join 500+ designers getting weekly AI career insights—no hype, just honest documentation of what’s working.

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The Dreamineer started as my personal learning log. It’s becoming a community of designers who believe peer support beats guru worship.