Designing with dev in mind: how we avoid handoff headaches

The handoff.
The moment where beautiful Figma files meet real-world code—and things start to break.

What looked perfect in the design review ends up misaligned in the browser. Typography shifts. Button states go missing. Devs are stuck guessing what’s intended, and designers are frustrated by compromises.

At Agencor, we’ve been on both sides of this. And we know: a clean handoff isn’t a matter of better tools—it’s a matter of better collaboration.

Here’s how we build projects where design and dev work like two halves of the same brain—not two departments tossing files back and forth.

1. Developers are in the room from day one

We don’t design in isolation and “loop in dev later.” That’s how you end up with layouts that look great on a grid but collapse in code.

Instead, our developers join early workshops, review wireframes, and flag friction points before they become roadblocks.

It’s not just about feasibility—it’s about alignment. When devs understand the design intent from the start, they’re not just implementing—they’re contributing.

2. Our designs are component-driven

We don’t deliver static artboards. We deliver systems.

That means:

• Reusable UI components with real states (default, hover, error, etc.)

• Clear naming conventions that mirror the final codebase

• Thoughtful spacing, sizing, and logic that aligns with responsive breakpoints

This gives devs a visual spec and a mental model to build from. No guesswork. No pixel-pushing marathons.

3. We use structure—not style—to communicate logic

You’ve probably seen it before: 20 versions of the same card, all slightly different. Designers tweak margins. Developers groan. QA goes wild.

We avoid this by designing with structure first. We define rules for:

• Grid behavior

• Content limits

• Heading hierarchies

• Component variations

That means every card, button, section, or modal has a consistent logic. Easier to build. Easier to scale. Easier to maintain.

4. We speak dev’s language

Figma is great, but it only goes so far. That’s why we layer our handoff with:

• Code-ready specs

• Token-based design systems (color, spacing, typography)

• Notes on behavior (not just appearance)

• Dev walkthrough calls, if needed

We also define edge cases. What happens when text overflows? What’s the empty state? How should a carousel behave on touch?

Good handoff isn’t just about what you show—it's about what you explain.

5. We design for the stack, not just the screen

Every dev team is different. Some build in React. Others use Webflow or custom stacks. Some need CMS-ready modules. Others want hard-coded templates.

We tailor our design process to match the tech stack before we begin.

That means:

• Knowing what’s dynamic and what’s static

• Structuring sections based on CMS fields

• Making dev-ready animations and transitions that don’t break performance

• Designing with actual content limits, not lorem ipsum placeholders

The result? Fewer surprises. Smoother builds. Happier devs.

It’s not just handoff—it’s a relationship

At Agencor, we don’t treat development like the final step. We treat it as part of the creative process.

Because the truth is: no matter how beautiful your design is, if it can’t be built the way it was intended, it doesn’t matter.

When design and dev work together from the start, the result isn’t just a better build—it’s a better experience. For your team. For your users. For the long run.

Final thought

A clean handoff doesn’t start at the end. It starts before the first screen is even designed.

At Agencor, we’ve built a process where design and dev aren’t at odds—they’re in sync. That’s how we avoid last-minute chaos and deliver sites that feel as good to build as they do to use.

If you’re tired of messy launches or dev teams dreading the handoff, let’s fix that—for good.