Design Handoff
The process of transferring design specifications and assets from designers to developers for implementation.
Definition
Design handoff encompasses the systematic transfer of design files, specifications, assets, and documentation from design teams to development teams. This process includes detailed annotations, measurements, color codes, typography specifications, and interactive behavior descriptions.
Effective handoffs utilize specialized tools and established workflows to ensure accurate translation of design intent into functional code, minimizing back-and-forth communication and reducing implementation errors.
Why It Matters
Streamlined design handoffs reduce project timelines and development costs by eliminating ambiguity and rework. Clear specifications enable developers to implement designs accurately on the first attempt, maintaining design quality while accelerating delivery.
Poor handoff processes lead to inconsistent implementations, frustrated teams, and delayed launches. Investing in proper handoff procedures improves cross-team collaboration and ensures the final product matches the intended user experience.
Examples in Practice
Design teams use tools like Figma or Zeplin to automatically generate CSS specifications, asset exports, and measurement details that developers can directly reference during implementation.
Mobile app projects include detailed handoff documentation specifying touch targets, animation timing, and responsive behavior across different device sizes and orientations.
Web applications include interactive prototypes alongside static designs, showing hover states, loading animations, and user flow transitions to guide accurate development implementation.