Product Design
Handoff
Handoff is the point where a finished design moves to engineering to be built. It covers the specs, assets, and shared understanding the developer needs to turn a layout into a working product.
Why it matters
A rough handoff leads to guesswork, mismatched spacing, and features that drift from the design. A clear one saves rework and keeps the built product faithful to the intent.
In depth
The common mistake is treating handoff as a one-way throw over the wall, where the designer disappears once files are shared. Done well, it is a conversation: accurate specs and shared design tokens reduce ambiguity, but the designer staying available to answer questions matters just as much. Shared tokens in particular let design and code reference the same values instead of hand-copied numbers.
Real-world example
A designer shares a Figma file where developers can inspect exact spacing, colors, and tokens, and stays reachable in a chat thread to answer questions as the build proceeds.
Principle
Handoff
Where design becomes buildable — specs, tokens, and a conversation.
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