Top Designer Banned from Dribbble Launches Competing Platform.
Dribbble has enacted permanent bans on several designers as part of its shift towards a marketplace model aimed at improving monetization. Among those impacted is Gleb Kuznetsov, a well-known designer and founder of the San Francisco design agency Milkinside.
The platform suspended his account, which had over 210 million followers, after he disclosed his contact information to prospective clients, violating its newly established guidelines.
Kuznetsov took to X to voice his discontent, stating, “I brought over 100,000 monthly users. 15 years of hard work. Over 12,000 shots erased without notice, all because a client asked for my email. Just one warning. No opportunity for appeal.”
Unhappy with the recent changes intended to help product, UX, web, and other digital designers promote their work and gain clients, Kuznetsov has begun discussions with investors about launching a competing platform.
In response to his online statement, Dribbble users reacted with shock and outrage, hailing Kuznetsov as a major source of inspiration and critiquing the platform for its misplaced decisions.
Conversely, Dribbble claims that Kuznetsov had received numerous warnings regarding violations of the new regulations, asserting that the email was his final notice.
Dribbble’s shift to a marketplace
This situation arises from a policy change announced on March 17, 2025.
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In an email sent to approximately 750,000 approved designers on Dribbble, the firm explained that designers could no longer share their contact details until clients made payments through the platform.
This policy was described as a way to protect designers from non-payments while enabling Dribbble to sustain its business model.
The announcement was also disseminated through social media and the company’s blog.
Nevertheless, Kuznetsov contends that non-payment is not a widespread issue, claiming this revision primarily serves Dribbble’s interests in taking a larger cut from designers’ earnings.
Dribbble has not disputed this assertion.
Before the policy alteration, Dribbble earned revenue through two primary channels. Starting in September 2024, it began transitioning to a marketplace model linking designers with clients. Designers had the freedom to communicate openly and either share a 3.5% revenue cut from clients they secured or opt for a Pro subscription to bypass revenue sharing. In March, the rules tightened further, mandating that anyone finding clients on Dribbble contribute a portion of their income to the platform.
Dribbble CEO Constantine Anastasakis clarified the changes in a TechCrunch interview, stating, “It shifted from being optional to mandatory for non-advertisers utilizing our transactional features to find clients.” He added, “Users seeking inspiration, feedback, or peer conversations won’t be impacted by this.”
Anastasakis, who has had prior experiences at direct-to-consumer lender Lower, video platform Pond5 (acquired by Shutterstock), and freelancer marketplace Fiverr, was appointed last April to spearhead Dribbble’s transition to a marketplace approach. While the company is profitable under parent company Tiny, it maintains a compact 20-person team and does not depend on venture capital to sustain its 7.5 to 10 million monthly unique visitors.
“Dribbble immensely accelerated our business back in the day,” Kuznetsov told TechCrunch. He noted that before Dribbble, no platform existed for designers to share their work, providing an avenue for peer feedback and enabling budding designers to learn from industry veterans.
Now, Kuznetsov stands among those veterans.
At Milkinside, he has collaborated with leading companies such as Apple, Google, Amazon, Scandinavian Airlines, United Airlines, Honda, Mitsubishi, and Mercedes-Benz.
Given his background, he likely did not foresee Dribbble would take the step to ban him for noncompliance with the new rules.
Anastasakis essentially confirmed this.
He informed TechCrunch that Kuznetsov had received 83 job inquiries since the new policy took effect and responded to 61. Each interaction included a reminder that contact details must not be shared prior to project payment. Yet, Kuznetsov shared his info in six messages, despite these warnings being clearly presented.
Shortly thereafter, the company dispatched a warning email on July 22 concerning his frequent breaches of the terms of service, indicating that he risked permanent account suspension.
Kuznetsov acknowledges that he initially overlooked this email, but Dribbble maintains that records indicate the email was opened three times before his ban.
“I suspect Dribbble intended to punish me to use my case as a warning to others who may violate the rules,” Kuznetsov asserts.
Dribbble’s CEO, Anastasakis, supported this viewpoint in discussions with TechCrunch.
“There’s simply no plausible situation where he wasn’t aware that his actions could result in a permanent account ban,” Anastasakis remarked.
“In the end, it appears he thought we wouldn’t act against a designer of his stature. By the way, I think he’s inadvertently highlighted how strict we are with our terms.”
For Kuznetsov, or any designer in similar situations, the only option for reinstating their accounts is to become an advertiser, which entails a minimum monthly budget of $1,500 for at least three months.
New Competitors to Dribbble?
Kuznetsov has opted to forge his own path, expressing his dissatisfaction with Dribbble’s alterations.
“It won’t be a replica of Dribbble,” he emphasized regarding his upcoming startup. It will act as a resource for designers and incorporate AI technologies.
Despite concerns about AI models utilizing creatives’ works without proper compensation, Kuznetsov sees potential for this technology to foster inspiration, creation, and design.
“There’s a notable gap in the market right now. Many are launching AI startups, but none specifically target designers,” Kuznetsov asserts. “AI can potentially elevate our creative capabilities and enhance quality, allowing us to earn more and create works that were previously thought impossible without specialized skills.”
Kuznetsov anticipates having a minimum viable product (MVP) ready within three to four months.
However, he stresses that his goal is not to “overwrite” Dribbble, despite having received offers from investors to do just that.
“That’s not my aim. I aspire to cultivate something advantageous for the community, as I am a designer myself. I comprehend the hurdles of being a designer in this landscape,” Kuznetsov concludes.
“We need to be judicious regarding how we allocate our time and efforts — how we engage ourselves with different platforms. This kind of diversification should be a consideration for everyone,” he adds.
