All style, no substance. The troubled relationship between UX designers and Dribbble

You’re staring at a blank screen. Time goes by. Nothing changes. The much-needed muse is nowhere to be seen. We’ve all been there. The dreaded creative drought is not a joking matter. 

In 2022, millions of designers turn to the internet for inspiration. Dozens and dozens of “inspiring” design portals appear constantly, but none has the reputation of the giant that is Dribbble. But while this resource has a ton of fantastic designs that do inspire, be careful not to copy too much. While Dribbble’s featured works are all fancy and eye-catching, beneath it all lies a problem — none of it is real, which not all UX designers understand.

Dribbble — a good tool for UX designers, but don’t believe everything you see

Designs for design’s sake

Well, not “none,” of course, but a lot of it is just for show. And design, whether you like it or not, is rarely about your personal quest to create the perfect website. Design is work, meaning that style is only a part of it. Function plays a considerable role — in fact, it might play the biggest one. But look at Dribbble. Do you see function? Do you see working prototypes? They are there, but they don’t get most of the attention because the minute your design becomes functional, it loses some of the “wow” factors.

Overblown trends

How often have you heard predictions about a new fancy design trend that will “consume everything” in the next six months? It happens a lot, and most such ideas come from Dribbble-esque places. Glassmorphism and any kind of “morphism” still can’t take off mostly because in pursuing the fancy effects, their creators forget many essential things. Things like accessibility — a much more useful trend.

Don’t be afraid to inspire, but don’t become another “Dribbble designer”

Design for design’s sake is okay in moderation, but try to always think about the end product and the user experience. Web design relies on function and ease of use. Remember that, and don’t try to reinvent the wheel every time. And while some clients might like more fanciful stuff, most of them will appreciate real use cases. So, our advice? Look for inspiration, but stay grounded in reality.