Design to Code: A Practical Handoff Checklist

Identify what the export actually contains

Open the exported files in a separate directory and inspect their entry point, styles, scripts and asset references. Confirm whether the result is a static page, framework component or editable design document. These formats answer different needs.

For example, Licuse Design exports a local design document, assets and standalone HTML/CSS/JavaScript pages. Applying that output to an existing application is a separate implementation step. Do not assume an export has created routes, connected a database or preserved your application's component system.

References: Licuse user guide

Map each visible action to a real contract

For every button or link, record its destination or side effect. A save action needs the data shape, validation rules, failure response and a way to avoid duplicate submissions. A filter needs a rule for preserving state when the user opens a detail page and returns.

Use a small handoff record such as this fictional example. Unknowns should remain visible until the application owner resolves them.

Action: save an invoice draft.
Input: client ID, line items and due date.
Success: open the saved draft by its returned ID.
Validation failure: show field errors and preserve input.
Network failure: keep the draft and offer retry.
Permissions: confirm server-side authorization in the application.
Open decision: whether drafts can contain an empty line item.

Reuse the application's own structure

Compare the prototype with existing navigation, tokens, form controls and components. Reuse those pieces where they meet the design intent. Copying an entire generated document into one component can duplicate layout rules and make future changes difficult.

Implement one vertical slice first: display real data, perform one action and handle one failure. This exposes integration problems while the change is still small.

Verify behavior beyond the screenshot

Inspect keyboard access, field labels and error recovery in the running application. Test long content, loading and empty states with realistic fixtures. A screenshot comparison can reveal a visual regression, while a behavior check establishes whether the user can still finish the task.

• Every visible action has an implemented destination or explicit demo state.
• Data access and authorization are enforced in the application.
• Failure preserves useful user input.
• Assets resolve from the deployed path.
• The page works at narrow and wide widths with enlarged text.

References: W3C: accessible forms · MDN: responsive web design