Dribbble API documentation redesign
Dribbble API Documentation - Authentication & Quickstart (Rewritten for Clarity and Developer Flow)
This project is not a part of my Write Tech Bootcamp activity.
Overview
A reverse-engineered documentation project where I analyzed and rewrote the Authentication and Quickstart sections of the Dribbble API, focusing on improving clarity, developer onboarding, and content structure using Docusaurus.
Objective
The goal was to evaluate how effectively Dribbble’s original API documentation helped developers start quickly, and to redesign it with clearer steps, better structure, and modern documentation practices (e.g. using examples, logical grouping, and progressive onboarding).
My role
- Technical Writer (solo project)
- Responsible for research, information architecture, markdown authoring, and front-end doc presentation.
Tools & stack
- Markdown + MDX - for content formatting
- Mintlify - for deployment
- Git + VS Code - version control and workflow
Process
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Analyzed the Original Docs
- Noted unclear navigation
- Observed inconsistent tone between pages
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Rewrote for Clarity
- Created a Quickstart page guiding new developers in less than 5 minutes.
- Broke authentication down into simple steps with sample requests/responses.
- Added a “Before You Begin” section to improve flow.
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Improved Structure
- Added breadcrumbs and internal links for better navigation.
- Used consistent headings and spacing (following Stripe’s and OpenAI’s structure).
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Published + iterated
- Deployed on Vercel.
- Shared online for feedback from fellow technical writers and developers.
Before vs after (Key improvements)
| Feature | Original Docs | Rewritten Version |
|---|---|---|
| Quickstart flow | 6 steps scattered | Single-page linear guide |
| Code examples | Limited | Multi-language with inline responses |
| Tone | Formal & vague | Action-oriented, developer-friendly |
| Navigation | Sparse links | Linked structure (Auth → First Call → Next Steps) |
Outcome
✅ Developers can now authenticate and make their first successful API call in under 5 minutes.
View the project
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📝 Docs Pages:
Reflection
This project helped me understand:
- How to structure docs for progressive onboarding.
- The importance of clear, action-driven instructions in API docs.
- How developer empathy drives documentation design.
Next, I plan to apply similar techniques to a FinTech API (like Interswitch or Flutterwave) to deepen my understanding of authentication flows and webhook integrations.