Dribbble's Monetization Push Sparks Exodus: Top Designer Banned, Builds AI-Powered Competitor

Dribbble, the portfolio platform for over 750,000 designers, has ignited a firestorm by permanently banning high-profile users—including Gleb Kuznetsov, founder of elite design studio Milkinside (Apple, Google, Mercedes-Benz). His offense? Sharing contact details with a client seeking his services, violating Dribbble’s newly enforced marketplace rules. Kuznetsov’s account—a 15-year archive with 12,000+ portfolio pieces and 210 million followers—vanished overnight.

The Monetization Catalyst

In March 2025, Dribbble pivoted aggressively from a community hub to a transactional marketplace. CEO Constantine Anastasakis (ex-Fiverr) mandated that designers must use Dribbble’s payment system for client deals, granting the platform a 3.5% revenue share. Previously, sharing contact info was unrestricted, and designers could avoid fees via a Pro subscription. Now, exchanging emails or LinkedIn profiles before payment triggers bans.

Dribbble’s warning system for contact-sharing violations (Source: Dribbble)

Anastasakis defends the policy as protection against non-payment, but Kuznetsov counters: "This is about their 3% cut." Dribbble claims Kuznetsov received 83 client inquiries post-policy, violated terms six times, and ignored a final warning email (opened three times). Kuznetsov insists he missed it, alleging Dribbble made him a "harsh lesson" to the community.

The Fallout: Trust Eroded, Competitors Rising

Kuznetsov’s ban sparked outrage among designers who credit him as a foundational influence. Meanwhile, Dribbble offers banned creators one path back: Become an advertiser with a $1,500/month minimum spend.

Gleb Kuznetsov, founder of Milkinside (Source: Gleb Kuznetsov)

Kuznetsov is now building a competitor, fueled by investor interest. Unlike Dribbble, his platform will leverage AI to "elevate creation quality"—addressing what he calls a gap in AI tools for professional designers.

"AI can help us create things we never thought possible without specific skills. This isn’t about killing Dribbble; it’s about building something good for designers who’ve given their lives to platforms that turned against them."
— Gleb Kuznetsov

The incident underscores a critical warning for creators: Diversify your platform dependence. As Anastasakis bluntly stated, Kuznetsov’s ban demonstrates Dribbble’s commitment to monetization—even at the cost of its most influential users. With Kuznetsov’s AI-driven alternative launching in months, the design community’s loyalty is now a battleground.

Source: TechCrunch