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Responding to Project Briefs

Updated over a week ago

Project Briefs are Pro-exclusive opportunities shared by clients who are ready to hire for upcoming design work. Each brief is created with guidance from Dribbble, giving you clear details about the project’s goals, style, and scope so you can quickly decide whether it’s a good fit for your skills.

🎯 Ready to explore? Head to the Project Briefs page to browse briefs that match your skills.


How to reply to Project Briefs

You can reply to Project Briefs directly from the Project Briefs page. When you find a project that feels like a good fit, you can choose how you want to present yourself:

  • Intro message: A short introduction and a required budget estimate. Perfect when you want to express interest but still need more clarity on the scope.

  • Proposal: A complete proposal that includes deliverables, timelines, and a finalized budget. Learn more about Proposals.

🔖 Each response, whether an intro or proposal, uses one credit. Credits are exclusively offered to Dribbble Pro members on Standard and Plus plans.

After sending, your intro or proposal appears in the client’s Submissions tab along with your profile details and full Dribbble portfolio.

Understanding Project Brief credits

Project Brief credits are included with eligible Dribbble Pro plans and are used each time you reply to a new brief. New credits are added to your account every month and expire based on your subscription term:

  • Monthly subscribers: Credits expire at the end of each monthly billing period.

  • Annual subscribers: Credits roll over month-to-month throughout your annual term and expire at the end of your yearly subscription.

You can always view your current credit balance on the Project Briefs page, along with how many days remain before any credits expire.

👥 Project Brief credits are applied only to the account that holds the subscription. For team plans, credits live on the team account, not on individual team owners. Make sure you’re signed in as the team to use credits.


Project Brief FAQs

Who can respond to Project Briefs?

Only Pro designers, on Standard or Plus plans, with available credits can reply to Project Briefs. A payout method must also be set up to submit a proposal.

Do clients see my full profile when I submit an intro or proposal?

Yes. Clients see your profile, full Dribbble portfolio, your rating, and project count, along with the details of your intro or proposal.


Can I edit or withdraw my response?

Intro messages cannot be edited once sent. Proposals can be edited until they are paid for. You can send follow-up messages, but responses cannot be formally withdrawn.


Why can’t I respond to any briefs?

You must be a Pro member and have at least one available credit to send an intro or proposal.

Why can’t I find a brief I saved earlier?

The brief may have expired, been unpublished by the client, or been removed.


Can I contact the client again if I haven’t heard back?

Yes. After responding, you can send follow-up messages in the same thread at any time.


Should I reply with an intro or a full proposal?

Intros are a great way to express interest when you still need more details to scope the project accurately. Proposals work best when you fully understand the project and want to present a complete, ready-to-start plan.

Can I negotiate pricing after responding?

Yes, as long as no proposal has been paid or accepted. You can continue discussing scope and pricing in your message thread.

I have an eligible Pro plan. Why don't I see any credits in my account?

This usually happens for two reasons:

  • You're a team owner, and credits belong to the team account, not your individual account — switch to the team profile to access them.

  • You’ve already used up your monthly credits.

If that’s not the case, contact our team, and we can look into it.

Will I be notified if the client declines my intro or proposal?

No, designers are not notified when a message is declined or archived. You’ll be notified only if the client chooses to message you or accepts your proposal.

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