Design System Tactics.
Whether you're starting fresh or maintaining a mature system, this growing collection of tactics is designed to help you make progress at every stage.
Design-Developer Collaboration
Build strong collaboration between design and development teams, ensuring smooth handoffs, faster iterations, and better team alignment through open communication, early involvement, and mutual respect.
When to use it
When breaking down silos, improving team alignment, or streamlining the handoff process between design and development.
Steps
- Involve developers early – Don’t wait for the “handover.” Bring them into the design process early and often.
- Collaborate regularly – Design and dev teams should co-create and iterate together, with continuous feedback.
- Clarify expectations – When handing off, ensure developers understand changes and the reasons behind them.
- Listen to each other – Respect developers’ technical insights and involve them in solving design challenges.
- Communicate openly – Establish regular syncs and transparent communication channels for feedback and updates.
- Compromise – Understand constraints and find solutions that meet both design and technical needs.
Outcome
- Improved alignment and collaboration between teams
- Smoother handoffs and fewer revisions
- Faster iteration and better results through shared understanding
