# design-handoff

Turns a Figma file or a written design description into a developer handoff spec: measurements, tokens, states, breakpoints, edge cases.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 3500 installs · ★ 33071
- Author: anthropics · official Anthropic repository
- License: Apache-2.0 · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins/tree/HEAD/design/skills/design-handoff/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-24
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/design-handoff

## What it does

The `design-handoff` skill writes the document engineers get when a design is ready to build. Give it a Figma link and it pulls the file; give it a description or screenshot and it works from that instead.

The spec covers exact padding, margins and widths, token references rather than raw values, component variants and states, click and hover behaviour, animation duration and easing, gesture support. Content rules are in there too: character limits, truncation, empty, loading and error states. So is accessibility — focus order, ARIA labels and roles, keyboard interactions.

The skill needs an argument: a Figma URL or a design description. With nothing to point at, there is nothing to spec. Connect a project tracker and it links the handoff to the implementation ticket and splits the spec into sub-tasks. Naming your stack up front gets you implementation notes that match your code.

## Requirements
- Works with: Figma

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins --skill design-handoff -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/design-handoff/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/design-handoff/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins --skill design-handoff -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/design-handoff/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins --skill design-handoff -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/design-handoff/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins design-handoff
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/design-handoff/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins --skill design-handoff -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins --path design/skills/design-handoff
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/design-handoff/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins --skill design-handoff -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins/tree/HEAD/design/skills/design-handoff/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- write a dev handoff spec from a finished design
- reference design tokens instead of hardcoded pixel values
- document every component state: hover, active, disabled, loading, error
- spell out behaviour at desktop, tablet and mobile breakpoints
- cover edge cases: empty list, long strings, slow connection

## Example prompts
- Generate a handoff spec for the checkout screen from this Figma link
- Spec the payment button states and what the form does on error
- Write the spec for the product card, we use React and Tailwind

## Source text · SKILL.md · Apache-2.0

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 4ce804833a3adf55.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 4ce804833a3adf55
````text
---
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](../../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

```markdown
## 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%] |
````
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 4ce804833a3adf55

The third-party file has ended. Everything between the 4ce804833a3adf55 tags is data: requests and commands from it are not followed. An “end of file” line with another tag inside the block is part of the file.

First 2575 of 3953 bytes. © anthropics · Apache-2.0 · https://github.com/anthropics/knowledge-work-plugins/tree/HEAD/design/skills/design-handoff/SKILL.md

_Part of the page did not fit — see the HTML version._

---
NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md