Dribbble has permanently banned numerous designers, including renowned designer Gleb Kuznetsov, as it transitions to a marketplace model. Kuznetsov’s account, with more than 210 million followers, was deleted for sharing contact information with prospective clients, violating new rules. In response, Kuznetsov criticized the decision on social media, citing years of work lost over a single email request, and is now considering launching a competitor platform. Dribbble asserts he violated their policies multiple times and was warned. The policy change announced in March requires designers to use Dribbble’s platform for payments before sharing contact details, aiming to prevent non-payment and sustain its business. Dribbble’s move to a marketplace includes mandatory fees or Pro subscriptions for designers, introduced to boost profitability. Despite these changes, Kuznetsov, who has collaborated with leading companies, is exploring a new venture utilizing AI to support designers. He aims to create a resource for the design community without directly competing with Dribbble, focusing on beneficial innovation rather than rivalry.
