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Dribbble for designers: how to post your first shot

Getting started on Dribbble: a Designer account, shot requirements, title, tags and thumbnail, what you can't post, and how to get inspired without copying.

  • Get a free Designer account instead of a limited one
  • Prepare a shot to Dribbble's specs: 1600 px, title, tags, thumbnail
  • Learn from Dribbble without copying other people's shots
Share your shot
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  • 1,504 members
  • Join in 1 click

How to get started on Dribbble: 5 steps

  1. 1

    Step 1

    Create an account and apply for a Designer account

  2. 2

    Step 2

    Choose what to show first

  3. 3

    Step 3

    Prepare files and build the shot

  4. 4

    Step 4

    Title, description, tags and thumbnail

  5. 5

    Step 5

    Learn from Dribbble, don't copy it

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This guide is for you if you are

  • Signing up for Dribbble

    You've created an account but see a limited-account label and don't know what to do next.

  • Looking for inspiration

    You scroll Dribbble every day and want it to turn into skills, not copies.

  • Want to get noticed

    You have study work and want to show it to a design audience alongside your portfolio.

In short

  • Dribbble is a showcase of designers' visual work: shots of interfaces, branding, illustration, animation and typography.
  • Anyone can sign up, but until your account is approved as a Designer, only you can see your shots on your profile. A Designer account is free.
  • Dribbble recommends images at least 1600 px wide; images in PNG, JPG or GIF up to 10 MB, video in MOV or MP4 up to 20 MB.
  • Title, thumbnail, description and tags decide whether people find a shot. No contact details in the shot or description.
  • A shot is a showcase, not a case study. For the story of a decision you need Behance or your own site, and to grow you need feedback from real people.

How to get started on Dribbble: 5 steps

  1. 1

    Step 1

    Create an account and apply for a Designer account

    Anyone can sign up for Dribbble, but to prevent abuse, basic accounts are limited. Anything you post from a limited account is visible only to you on your profile until Dribbble approves you as a Designer. There are two ways to get a free Designer account:

    • apply: complete your profile (avatar, name, location, bio), set your work preferences (specialties, experience, availability), upload work and hover over the Limited Account label on your profile, click Learn More and then Apply in the window that opens;
    • invitation: designers on Dribbble periodically receive invites for friends and colleagues; accepting one gives you a Designer account without applying.

    💡 Dribbble's FAQ says plainly that you don't have to be a professional: students and people from other fields can apply. Early work is fine too; it shows your progress.

  2. 2

    Step 2

    Choose what to show first

    Dribbble is a digital design platform. According to its shot guidelines, animation, branding, illustration, mobile and web interfaces, product design, print and typography all fit. The point is to show your own work or work in progress. What Dribbble doesn't accept:

    • wholly AI-generated content: shots that include AI elements are fine, 100% generation isn't; you're encouraged to credit AI in the description;
    • unaltered stock content, templates and asset packs for sale or free download;
    • ads for services, affiliate links and contact details in the shot or description;
    • photography, architectural visualization, interiors and fashion design as such.

    💡 For a first shot, pick one finished piece: a screen from a study app, a logo with applications, an illustration. One tidy piece beats ten rushed ones.

    Show your shot before you post it

    In the community you can share your work and get feedback on composition, typography and presentation before Dribbble sees it. Post your thumbnail and ask whether it reads at a small size.

    Share your shot

    Free. 1,504 designers are already in the community.

  3. 3

    Step 3

    Prepare files and build the shot

    Dribbble's new uploader has no fixed ratio: a shot is made of blocks: image, text, video, gallery. Prepare files to the help-center requirements:

    • recommended minimum width for images, GIFs and video is 1600 px; height and ratio are up to you;
    • images in PNG, JPG or GIF up to 10 MB, video in MOV or MP4 up to 20 MB;
    • no watermarks: Dribbble advises against them because they get in the way of viewing the work;
    • after Continue, choose a thumbnail from any block in the shot.

    💡 Add your process to the shot: sketches, an early version, the grid. Dribbble itself recommends showing behind-the-scenes work: viewers find it more interesting and it helps in search.

  4. 4

    Step 4

    Title, description, tags and thumbnail

    These decide whether people find your shot in Dribbble's search. Advice from the platform's help center:

    • title: descriptive, at least 15–20 characters, no all caps and no keyword stuffing; not “Logo” but “Logo for a children's library with a book mascot”;
    • thumbnail: well cropped, no logo or text on top, readable at a small size; for animation, a video rather than a still;
    • description: what the work is, who it's for, the idea and inspiration; no contact details or service ads;
    • tags: at least 10, accurate only; popular but irrelevant tags, like UI on a branding shot, reduce visibility.

    💡 Every shot goes through human moderation. If it's rejected, you get an email explaining why; edit the shot and it's automatically sent back for review.

    Not sure your shot is ready? Show it to the community →
  5. 5

    Step 5

    Learn from Dribbble, don't copy it

    Dribbble is useful as a source of inspiration if you look analytically. Remember: designers keep all rights to their work, and Dribbble asks you not to use anyone's shots without the designer's direct permission, even for personal use. How to get value out of browsing:

    • gather shots you like into themed sets and note what exactly you like: the grid, the contrast, the typography;
    • ask whether it would work in a real product: with long text, an empty state, an error;
    • if someone's work inspired you, post a Rebound: that's how Dribbble suggests crediting the original idea (not available on a limited account);
    • show your shots to people who'll give honest feedback, not just likes.

    💡 A Dribbble shot is a beautiful frame without context. To learn to make decisions, turn the same work into a case study with explanations: see Behance for designers.

You're not alone with these questions

We counted what people ask about most in our community. Portfolios and case studies are the second most popular topic, after learning.

You're not alone with these questions
Learning and courses938
Portfolio and case studies705
Figma647
AI tools380
Jobs and vacancies314
UX research131

Messages by topic in Spaceberry Community, July 2024 — November 2026. Keyword search.

Practice with a deadline and live feedback

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    The academy's home page through the eyes of an applicant, a student and a teacher. Three finalists; the community chose the winner.

  • AI challenge · May 2025

    A landing page made by AI

    Logo, copy and visuals made only with AI tools. Four entries, an anonymous vote, and participants shared their prompts.

  • Workshop · April 2026

    Figmosha: AI in Figma

    The tool's author showed how to generate interfaces in Figma and analyze a design system.

Share your shot

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How to join: 1 minute

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    Tap the button

    Telegram opens with the Spaceberry community.

  2. 2

    Join

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    Introduce yourself

    Say where you're starting from and ask your first question.

Questions and answers

Didn't find your answer? Ask it in the community.

Is Dribbble free?

Yes, browsing and having a Designer account are free. There's a paid Pro subscription in three tiers, Lite, Standard and Plus, all of which boost your work's visibility, and Standard and Plus add client-matching tools. Prices change, so check the Dribbble Pro page for current terms.

Why can't anyone see my shots?

First check whether your account is still limited: until Dribbble approves you as a Designer, only you can see your shots. Only you see the Limited Account label on your profile. If your account is already approved, check the title, tags and thumbnail, and whether moderation rejected the shot.

Dribbble or Behance: which should I choose?

They're different formats. Dribbble works better as a showcase of individual visual pieces, Behance for detailed case studies with images and text. You can use both: a short shot on Dribbble and the full project story on Behance or your own site. For employers, a case study that explains your decisions usually matters more than a pretty frame, so start with the case study and make a shot from its best screen.

Can I post work made with AI?

Yes, if AI is only part of the work. Under Dribbble's rules, wholly AI-generated content isn't accepted, and you're encouraged to credit AI's contribution in the shot description. Honest labeling matters for your reputation too: briefly say what was generated and what you drew or refined yourself. If a shot is rejected, you get an email explaining why, and you can edit it.

Is the Spaceberry community paid?

No, Spaceberry Community is completely free. It's supported by Spaceberry Foundation, a non-profit public organization. All you need to join is a Telegram account: tap the button on this page, introduce yourself and ask your first question. The community has 1,504 designers who share their work, give feedback and take part in design games with the same brief for everyone. Conversations are in Ukrainian.

Likes are nice, feedback is useful

Join 1,504 designers who share their work and review it honestly. Design games will give you new pieces for your profile. The community talks in Ukrainian.

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