Dribbble has permanently banned dozens of designers from its platform as part of a new effort to pivot to a marketplace and focus on monetization. Among those banned is one of the platform’s most well-known designers, Gleb Kuznetsov, founder of the San Francisco-based design studio Milkinside. Dribbble deleted his account, which had over 210 million followers, because he shared his contact information with prospective clients in violation of its new rules.
Kuznetsov expressed his frustration in a post on X, stating, “I brought 100,000+ monthly users. 15 years of work. 12,000+ shots. All instantly deleted, because a client asked for my email. One warning. No appeal.” Disillusioned with Dribbble’s changes, Kuznetsov revealed he has been speaking with investors about launching a competitor.
Following his social media post, many Dribbble users expressed shock and anger, crediting Kuznetsov as a major inspiration and criticizing the platform’s decision. Dribbble, however, claims Kuznetsov was warned multiple times about violating the new rules and that the email exchange was the final notice before his suspension.
The issue stems from a policy change announced on March 17, 2025. In an email to its 750,000 approved designers, Dribbble stated it would no longer allow designers to share contact information with prospective clients until after payment was processed through its platform. The company framed this as a measure to protect designers from non-payment and sustain its business.
Kuznetsov argues that non-payment is not a widespread issue and believes the update is primarily about Dribbble taking a larger share of designers’ earnings. Dribbble does not deny this. Previously, the platform made money through a 3.5% revenue share on converted clients or Pro subscriptions. The new policy mandates that designers must use Dribbble’s transactional features for client work, ensuring the platform gets a cut.
Dribbble CEO Constantine Anastasakis explained that the changes only affect designers using the platform to find clients, not those seeking inspiration or feedback. He was hired in April 2024 to transition Dribbble into a marketplace. While the company is profitable under parent company Tiny, it remains a small team of 20 and does not rely on venture funding.
Kuznetsov, whose studio Milkinside has worked with major brands like Apple, Google, and Mercedes-Benz, claims he was unaware of the severity of the warnings. Dribbble disputes this, stating he received 83 work inquiries since March, responded to 61, and shared his contact details in six instances, triggering stronger warnings. A final warning email was sent on July 22, which Dribbble says was opened three times before his suspension.
Kuznetsov believes Dribbble targeted him to set an example for other designers. Anastasakis confirmed that the company wanted to demonstrate its seriousness about enforcing the new terms. Banned designers can only return as advertisers, requiring a minimum campaign budget of $1,500 per month for three months.
Instead of rejoining Dribbble, Kuznetsov is pursuing his own venture. He plans to create a resource for designers that incorporates AI, differentiating it from Dribbble. He sees AI as a tool to enhance creativity and efficiency in design, addressing a gap in the market.
Kuznetsov aims to launch a minimum viable product within three to four months. He emphasizes that his goal is not to “kill” Dribbble but to provide a better solution for the design community. He advises designers to diversify their platforms and be mindful of where they invest their time and work.