This article discusses the importance of collaboration between designers and developers in the product design process. It emphasizes that although designers and developers have different roles, they need to work together effectively to create a well-designed final product. The article highlights the challenges that can arise when designers and developers don’t work well together, such as inflexibility, lack of innovation, and difficulty in handing off features. It suggests three things that developers expect from designers: regular communication, a clear understanding of what needs to be built and why, and the opportunity to criticize design decisions.
To bridge the gap between design and development, the article provides several recommendations. Designers should learn to give and ask for constructive feedback, listen to developers’ input, explain the design process and conclusions, and be open to ideas. They should also write clear and detailed specifications, actively participate in high-level implementation conversations, and practice collaboration between designers and developers. The article concludes with a design-to-development hand-off checklist, emphasizing the importance of consistency, an up-to-date design system, responsiveness, easy export of visual assets, and clear descriptions of complex visual effects.
Overall, the article highlights the need for improved collaboration, communication, and understanding between designers and developers to enhance the design process and create better products.