ARTICLE SUMMARY: Designers are in the business of solving problems. We are also in the business of communication. We communicate to the masses what’s important to our clients, their products, services, thoughts and ideas.

There are times, especially with large projects that have more than one team working on a project that a well documented handoff is crucial to the success of a project. If there’s no clear process in place, one that is respected and constantly improved by the team, it is very likely that information will be lost, guidelines won’t be followed, and design solutions won’t be respected.

In Bettina D’ávila’s “Good handoff improves UX quality” she talks about the importance of a good handoff and gives us a roadmap to developing a process to ensure that there is a proper handoff with each project. Her process includes

  • Having a single source of truth
  • Structuring your design workflow
  • Documenting your design deliverables

A smooth handoff process ensures that the design vision, from layout to animations, translates accurately into the final product. This avoids mismatches that could confuse users or reduce usability.

The goal is to reduce the chances of developers misinterpreting design elements, leading to fewer iterations and faster delivery. Consistent handoffs create a coherent user experience across different screens or sections, helping users intuitively understand and navigate the product.

You want to avoid incomplete or unclear handoffs that lead to costly reworks. With a smooth handoff, development moves faster, and designers and developers can focus on refinements rather than fixing gaps

She also makes us aware that “There is no single process or tool that will respond to all needs. Each designer alongside their team should establish their preferred process and methodologies based on their goals and needs. But one thing is sure: the more streamlined the handoff process between designers and developers is, the greater the chances to improve UX quality of your design solution.”

There is a lot to learn form this article that makes this well worth reading. Let us know what you think in the comments.