While developing sites and applications, you often see that the design is drawn beautifully. Still, when it comes to implementation, the developer has to puzzle over how to bring the design into reality.
We sum up here key difficulties in working with design from the developer's view, as well as those tricks that make the life of a developer easier.
What frustrates the most?
.avif)
Changing the Order of Components in the Mobile Version
We create an HTML skeleton and change it upon style properties. If there is one block in the design on the mobile version and another on the browser, both elements are in the HTML skeleton, and styles are hidden for different versions. For example, if in the browser there is a picture, and under it, there is a text, and in the mobile version it is a picture under the text, then this is not a problem; there are properties in the style that can change the order. But when the structure changes are too complicated, such as a picture appearing in the middle of the text, you need to devise a solution to build the ability to display it this way. Therefore, it would be great to avoid it in case it is not very critical for UX.
Different Spacing Between Identical Items in a List
Any sequential elements usually have the same properties (for example, menu items), and the style is typical for all to have less code. And when you see, for example, three buttons in a row, and between them, there is one indent of 20 pixels, and the second is30, then we spend time clarifying whether this is so or wrong.
The same is with the sizes of icons, which are also in the list; if 1-2 icons are knocked out in size, then you need to spend extra time processing them.
All Design Components Are Arranged According to Logic and Not Scattered Around the Space
It's good when the finished design is somehow structured in columns or horizontally. When they are randomly scattered across the canvas, it seems that the design is still in progress. This makes it difficult to view the application logic, making it difficult for a Project manager and the customer to find the desired screen.
But in addition to all of the above, there is something that makes our life easier and brighter: the UI kit
This is the most beautiful and helpful thing a developer can take when bringing a design to life.
The Block With Inputs, Buttons, and Dropdowns Helps a Lot
If these elements are separately drawn in different states, regardless of size, it significantly reduces the development time and further testing.
Fonts and Colors
It is handy to indicate all the headings of a specific style in the project and text in blocks of another. This will help when one person starts the design but his colleague has to replace him and finish the project. A block with all the project colors is not required, but it can be helpful. This will protect against the appearance of 2 or 3 shades of red, with validation errors, for example.
Based on our experience, we are sure that these points will help with the optimization of work among both developers and designers and reduce the time for clarification during development. And designers will not be pulled with clarifications and will continue to create beautiful things.
FAQ
Why is alignment between design and development important?
Strong alignment reduces misunderstandings, rework, and delays. When designers and developers collaborate early, ideas translate more smoothly into functional products.
How can teams simplify the design-to-development handoff?
Using clear documentation, shared design systems, and developer-friendly design tools helps streamline handoff and minimize interpretation gaps.
What role do design systems play in easing workflows?
Design systems provide reusable components, consistent styles, and shared standards. They save time, improve consistency, and reduce decision fatigue for both designers and developers.
How does early collaboration make projects easier?
Early collaboration allows teams to identify technical constraints, validate ideas, and align on expectations before development begins, reducing costly changes later.
Which tools help improve collaboration between designers and developers?
Collaboration tools for design, project management, version control, and communication help teams work transparently and stay aligned throughout the project lifecycle.
How can automation improve design and development efficiency?
Automation reduces repetitive tasks such as testing, asset export, and deployment. This frees up time for creative and strategic work while improving consistency and quality.
