Process
The handoff is part of the design.
A beautiful file is only useful when someone else can keep using it.
3 min read
Design for the person who comes next.
A handoff is a working environment, not a final presentation. The next person needs to understand what is reusable, what is unique and which decisions are deliberate. Name components by function, keep variants predictable and document the exceptions that would otherwise require a meeting.
Explain the rules, not every pixel.
Useful documentation describes the principles behind the system: when a page needs a wide section, how a card adapts to long content, and which colors communicate action. A short explanation beside a real example is often more helpful than a long specification detached from the work.
Leave the system ready to change.
Test with a longer title, a missing image and an extra card. Invite someone who did not build the system to update a page. The moments where they hesitate reveal the documentation and component controls that still need attention.