Best PracticesLesson 22 of 23
Handing Off Work to Developers
1 min readClaude Code for DesignersUpdated Feb 18, 2026
A prototype that ships well to a developer is a prototype that gets built. You'll learn what to put on GitHub, what belongs in a README, and how to use Figma MCP so the handoff conversation is about decisions, not pixel pushing.
Handing Off Work to Developers
Prepare Your Code for Handoff
- Push to GitHub: Make sure all your latest work is on GitHub
- Add comments: Explain why you made certain design choices in the code
- Create a README: A simple document explaining what the prototype does and how to run it
Write a Good README
Create a file called README.md with:
- What the prototype is for
- How to run it (e.g., "Run npm start to see the prototype")
- Design notes (e.g., "Button interactions should feel snappy")
- Links to design files (Figma, etc.)
Be Available for Questions
Developers will have questions about your design. Be ready to:
- Explain why you made certain choices
- Show design references or inspiration
- Discuss trade-offs (e.g., why animation smoothness matters)
Streamline Handoff with Figma MCP
If your team uses Figma, the Figma MCP server makes handoff seamless. Developers can connect Claude Code to your Figma files and generate code that matches your designs exactly — same colors, spacing, and components. No more "the padding looks off" back-and-forth.
- Share your Figma file link with the developer
- They can connect Claude Code to Figma MCP and reference your frames directly
- Code Connect can map your Figma components to the team's existing component library
- Design tokens and variables from Figma carry over to code automatically
Handoff, ready
- Prepared the repo with comments, a README, and a recent push
- Documented design intent so developers know the why, not just the what
- Used Figma MCP to short-circuit the "the padding looks off" loop
Last lesson coming up. Things will go wrong eventually — knowing how to fix them keeps the workflow running.