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Dribbble Bans Top Designers Amid Monetization Pivot, Sparking Backlash and New Competition
August 4, 2025
Dribbble has permanently removed dozens of designers from its platform, including one of its most high-profile users, Gleb Kuznetsov, as part of a controversial shift toward monetization and a stricter marketplace model.
Kuznetsov, the founder of San Francisco-based design studio Milkinside, had been one of the most followed and influential figures on Dribbble, with a legacy spanning over 15 years and more than 12,000 design uploads. His account, reportedly followed by over 210 million users, was deleted after he shared his email address with a prospective client — a violation of Dribbble’s new rules.
“I brought 100,000+ monthly users. 15 years of work. All instantly deleted, because a client asked for my email,” Kuznetsov wrote in a post on X. “One warning. No appeal.”
His suspension has drawn outrage from the design community, with many calling him a source of inspiration and criticizing the platform for being overly punitive.
Dribbble claims Kuznetsov had received multiple warnings since a March 2025 policy update that prohibits sharing contact information before a client makes payment through the platform. According to Dribbble CEO Constantine Anastasakis, the move aims to ensure designers get paid and allow the company to capture a share of transactions that originate on the site.
The company, which transitioned into a full-fledged marketplace in September 2024, now mandates revenue sharing or paid advertising for designers sourcing work through the platform. The CEO acknowledged that while Dribbble was once a place to showcase work and connect freely, monetization is now a central focus. For banned users like Kuznetsov, the only way back is as an advertiser, with a minimum campaign spend of $1,500 per month for at least three months.
But Kuznetsov isn’t looking back. He revealed that he's in talks with investors to launch a new platform for designers — one that integrates artificial intelligence not just for inspiration but also for creation and productivity.
“It’s not going to be a copycat of Dribbble,” Kuznetsov explained. “AI can elevate our ability to create and help us build things that once required specific skills.”
Despite offers from investors hoping to see a direct Dribbble rival, Kuznetsov maintains that his goal isn’t revenge — it’s about supporting a community he’s been part of for over a decade.
“We need to be really smart about how we invest our time — how we give our best and give our life to other platforms,” he said. “Diversification of that investment should be something that everyone should be thinking about.”
Kuznetsov expects to launch a minimum viable product within the next few months.
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