How can you reduce a project — any project — to just one image?

Include larger attachments? Write accompanying comments? Write a blog post and link to it? Post a few shots, and use the tags, project and rebound features on Dribbble to group them?

Dribble perpetuates the prejudice about design that I disagree with most: it’s all about pretty pictures.

Firstly, Dribbble is a site for designers and illustrators. For those in the industry, sometimes the smaller details are interesting, even if the broader strokes of a project can’t be seen.

Secondly, designers and illustrators are communicators. It is our job to communicate within the constraints we have to work with. Dribbble’s small image size is a constraint I welcome. I find the challenge fun, and constructive.

How do we know something is “amazing work” when all we see is a 300×400 img?

The problem with this statement is the premise.

First step: Say something/have an opinion about Dribbble

Second step: Say it on Medium

Third step: Now you are cool and enjoy the likes!

Eric is mad because he doesn't have an invite.

Wow, why so much negativity? Regardless of the "dribbblization of design", Dribbble is and has been a good source of clients for me :)

Erik Spiekermann often comes across as a negative Nancy IMO, but I agree with him here. Isn't it true that dribbble frequently celebrates a great looking thumbnail over an actual thing? It reduces complex problem solving and educated decision making to a tiny rectangle.

Designers are some the smartest, most influential people when it comes to marketing and product making, but they're also some of the least well-paid.

This snapshot culture does seem to contribute to the false reputation that many managers and paycheck writers have of designers. Spiekermann says it best, "Dribbble perpetuates the prejudice about design that I disagree with most: it’s all about pretty pictures."

My goodness! Didn’t think I’d ruffle so many feathers with a little comment to an article.

I have nothing against Dribbble, I simply said that a lot of projects cannot be presented by a simple image. Many do, of course, consist of only one image. Nothing wrong with that. I’ve just had too many clients classify me and other designers as “artists” who only care about pretty colours and typefaces. And I want us to be taken seriously rather than being dismissed as mere window dressers. I love it when my peers like my work, but I love it even better when my clients do. And they certainly don’t look at Dribbble. I do, however, like Dribbble’s sense of humour: that name is very funny and shows a lot of perspective. As some of the commentators have said: it’s what people make of the platform that matters. And if some designers want to showcase their work in a single image, good for them. Just doesn’t work for the projects I’ve done all my life.

And for all the other haters: do your homework before you presume. I have often said that designers need to code (recently in an interview here: http://pi.co/erik-spiekermann/), and my name is spelled with a k. As Mies van der Rohe said: “God is in the details”. Look at Edenspiekermann’s work and then judge whether I know what I’m talking about. BTW: type design these days involves a lot of coding.

Do you think he would be mad if I sent him an invite?

Designers have really developed a taste for breaking each other down. Dribbble isn't hurting anyone or anything. It's a website. Can't the same argument here be passed on Behance and friends?

Bummer to see this from Spiekermann of all people.

Damnnnnnn Erik, at it again with the beating of dead horses.

The attempts to delegitimize what was essentially created to be a "show and tell for designers," is completely mind-boggling to me.

1) why are we still carrying on this conversation in 2016? We've literally had it, killed it and resurrected it somewhere in the ballpark or 10 times.

2) The choice to base your premise of "the problem of dribble," on anecdotal accounts of what's wrong instead of viable user-research is ironically comical at best.

3) Arbitrary "likes/feedback/comments" from your peers (who likely will not use your product) is of what value to you or any of us?

We have meaningful products such as medium, that are being used to flesh out case studies or thought processes. Dribbble utlizes attachments, gifs, and project based shot grouping to allow you to use the platform as a means to go beyond just the visual context. Chill.

Dribbble does have more than a few major issues, but it is starting to feel like ripping on Dribbble is 2016's "Should designers code?"

These kind of articles makes me look for some rage & anger management info.

Dribbble is just a place for designers to impress other designers. There's really nothing else to it.

Love Love Love Spiekemann. FU Dribble and all who dwell there.

If he had a beard still, he'd feel differently.

/giphy #1 applause

Dribbble about page.

Dribbble is what you make it to be. You can post pretty pieces of perfection, or you can share imperfection. I find inspiration. I post sketches, works in progress and final pieces. It's just a community to share your work. The ideal platform would be something like Wake mixed with Dribbble.

Dribbble - "Show and tell for companies looking to market something"

amen