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design-handoff

anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins

Generate comprehensive developer handoff specs from designs with layout, tokens, states, and accessibility details.

What is design-handoff?

Converts design files or descriptions into structured handoff documentation for engineers. Use when a design is ready for implementation and needs detailed specifications covering visual properties, interactions, responsive behavior, edge cases, and accessibility requirements.

  • Extract exact measurements, padding, margins, and design token references from designs
  • Document component variants, interaction states, hover effects, transitions, and animations
  • Specify responsive breakpoints and layout behavior across device sizes
  • Define content specifications including character limits, truncation, and empty/loading/error states
  • Identify edge cases like minimum/maximum content, international text, and missing data
  • Include accessibility requirements: focus order, ARIA labels, keyboard interactions, and screen reader support

How to install design-handoff

npx skills add https://github.com/anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins --skill design-handoff
Prerequisites
  • Figma URL or design file (optional; can work from description or screenshot)
  • Design tool connector configured for automated spec extraction (optional)
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How to use design-handoff

  1. 1.Run `/design-handoff` with a Figma URL or design description
  2. 2.Provide context about edge cases, tech stack, or special requirements if needed
  3. 3.Review the generated handoff spec covering layout, tokens, components, states, responsive behavior, and accessibility
  4. 4.Share the spec with engineering team or link to implementation tickets

Use cases

Good for
  • Hand off a Figma design to developers with complete visual and interaction specifications
  • Document responsive behavior and breakpoint changes for mobile, tablet, and desktop layouts
  • Specify all component states (default, hover, active, disabled, loading, error) to prevent developer guessing
  • Create edge case documentation for handling long text, empty states, and error conditions
  • Generate accessibility requirements including focus order and ARIA labels for inclusive implementation
Who it's for
  • Product designers preparing designs for engineering handoff
  • Design systems teams documenting component specifications
  • Frontend developers needing detailed implementation guidance
  • Product managers coordinating design-to-development transitions

design-handoff FAQ

Can I use this without a Figma URL?

Yes. You can provide a design description, screenshot, or reference, and the skill will generate handoff specs based on that information.

What if the design doesn't specify certain states or behaviors?

The skill follows the principle 'Don't assume' — it will flag missing specifications and recommend what should be defined (e.g., hover states, loading states, error handling).

Does this integrate with project tracking tools?

If a project tracker connector is configured, the skill can link the handoff spec to implementation tickets and create sub-tasks for each section.

Should I reference design tokens or pixel values?

Always use design token references (e.g., `spacing-md`, `color-primary`) rather than raw pixel values, as this makes specs more maintainable and consistent.

What should I include about animations?

Specify the trigger, animation description, duration in milliseconds, and easing function for each animated element.

Full instructions (SKILL.md)

Source of truth, from anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins.


name: design-handoff description: Generate developer handoff specs from a design. Use when a design is ready for engineering and needs a spec sheet covering layout, design tokens, component props, interaction states, responsive breakpoints, edge cases, and animation details. argument-hint: "<Figma URL or design description>"

/design-handoff

If you see unfamiliar placeholders or need to check which tools are connected, see CONNECTORS.md.

Generate comprehensive developer handoff documentation from a design.

Usage

/design-handoff $ARGUMENTS

Generate handoff specs for: @$1

If a Figma URL is provided, pull the design from Figma. Otherwise, work from the provided description or screenshot.

What to Include

Visual Specifications

  • Exact measurements (padding, margins, widths)
  • Design token references (colors, typography, spacing)
  • Responsive breakpoints and behavior
  • Component variants and states

Interaction Specifications

  • Click/tap behavior
  • Hover states
  • Transitions and animations (duration, easing)
  • Gesture support (swipe, pinch, long-press)

Content Specifications

  • Character limits
  • Truncation behavior
  • Empty states
  • Loading states
  • Error states

Edge Cases

  • Minimum/maximum content
  • International text (longer strings)
  • Slow connections
  • Missing data

Accessibility

  • Focus order
  • ARIA labels and roles
  • Keyboard interactions
  • Screen reader announcements

Principles

  1. Don't assume — If it's not specified, the developer will guess. Specify everything.
  2. Use tokens, not values — Reference spacing-md not 16px.
  3. Show all states — Default, hover, active, disabled, loading, error, empty.
  4. Describe the why — "This collapses on mobile because users primarily use one-handed" helps developers make good judgment calls.

Output

## Handoff Spec: [Feature/Screen Name]

### Overview
[What this screen/feature does, user context]

### Layout
[Grid system, breakpoints, responsive behavior]

### Design Tokens Used
| Token | Value | Usage |
|-------|-------|-------|
| `color-primary` | #[hex] | CTA buttons, links |
| `spacing-md` | [X]px | Between sections |
| `font-heading-lg` | [size/weight/family] | Page title |

### Components
| Component | Variant | Props | Notes |
|-----------|---------|-------|-------|
| [Component] | [Variant] | [Props] | [Special behavior] |

### States and Interactions
| Element | State | Behavior |
|---------|-------|----------|
| [CTA Button] | Hover | [Background darken 10%] |
| [CTA Button] | Loading | [Spinner, disabled] |
| [Form] | Error | [Red border, error message below] |

### Responsive Behavior
| Breakpoint | Changes |
|------------|---------|
| Desktop (>1024px) | [Default layout] |
| Tablet (768-1024px) | [What changes] |
| Mobile (<768px) | [What changes] |

### Edge Cases
- **Empty state**: [What to show when no data]
- **Long text**: [Truncation rules]
- **Loading**: [Skeleton or spinner]
- **Error**: [Error state appearance]

### Animation / Motion
| Element | Trigger | Animation | Duration | Easing |
|---------|---------|-----------|----------|--------|
| [Element] | [Trigger] | [Description] | [ms] | [easing] |

### Accessibility Notes
- [Focus order]
- [ARIA labels needed]
- [Keyboard interactions]

If Connectors Available

If ~~design tool is connected:

  • Pull exact measurements, tokens, and component specs from Figma
  • Export assets and generate a complete spec sheet

If ~~project tracker is connected:

  • Link the handoff to the implementation ticket
  • Create sub-tasks for each section of the spec

Tips

  1. Share the Figma link — I can pull exact measurements, tokens, and component info.
  2. Mention edge cases — "What happens with 100 items?" helps me spec boundary conditions.
  3. Specify the tech stack — "We use React + Tailwind" helps me give relevant implementation notes.