One of the most common challenges I hear from software teams is the disconnect between design and engineering when implementing features. After a feature is built, designers often find themselves cringing at discrepancies between their meticulously crafted designs and the final product. It could be as small as incorrect padding, wrong hex codes for colors, or how content stacks at different viewport widths—yet these minor discrepancies are often the source of significant frustration.
The way designers react to these inconsistencies can create a cycle of conflict. They may compile a backlog of issues detailing every fault, remain silent while feeling frustrated, or intervene mid-development, delaying progress. Developers, in turn, grow frustrated with constant corrections, and product managers are left trying to balance competing demands. This scenario plays out all too often and speaks to deeper issues that need to be addressed.
Breaking the Cycle
To break this cycle and improve collaboration between design and development, it’s important for designers to take the first step towards greater transparency and partnership. Here’s a framework to start building a healthier relationship between the two functions:
- Invite Developers into the Design Process Designers need to make the first move by inviting developers into the design process early. This means more than just showing them the work at backlog refinement. Host ideation sessions where developers can provide input on upcoming features, and invite a technical leader or architect to weekly meetings. Hosting reviews of early design phases with front-end engineers also helps set the stage for collaboration. When developers are welcomed into the design world, they’re more likely to connect with designers during implementation, creating a shared sense of ownership.
- Be Part of Backlog Refinement Designers should be present when the designs are discussed during backlog refinement meetings. This is a bare minimum—developers can’t estimate effort or properly plan without the designer there to answer questions and clarify details. Push back if you’re asked to document everything instead of talking directly with the developers. Collaboration and open dialogue will always yield better results than throwing documentation over the wall.
- Educate and Empower Developers Designers should view every interaction with developers as an opportunity to educate them on design principles and heuristics. The more your developers understand design concepts—such as spacing, contrast, affordance, and cognitive response time—the more effectively they’ll be able to implement designs. Empowering developers with design knowledge reduces discrepancies and makes communication more efficient.
- Design Reviews During Implementation Coordinate with the product owner to determine the best time to conduct design reviews during implementation—before the work is reviewed and approved. Negotiate with the team about how these reviews will impact their story estimates and include design reviews as part of the definition of done. Don’t settle for a backlog of design debt unless there’s a plan in place to resolve it in a timely manner before features go live.
- Evaluate Front-End Competency If there’s a significant gap between design artifacts and implementation quality, it may be time for the engineering team to evaluate their front-end skills. Some teams are formed without adequate front-end development expertise, leading to quality issues. Addressing this competency gap can have a big impact on the success of the team.
- Conduct Design Reviews Directly with Engineers Ideally, design reviews should be done directly with the engineers who implemented the work. This could be in-person or remote, but the key is to discuss issues openly and collaboratively. These one-on-one conversations are the fastest way for developers to learn about design and for designers to learn about engineering constraints—ultimately reducing the need for extensive reviews and making the process more efficient over time.
Towards One Team
The goal is to build a healthy working relationship between design and engineering so that the team’s collective efforts are more effective. Reducing the need for heavy documentation and breaking down the walls between roles will allow you to operate as a unified team. The better developers understand design, and the better designers understand development, the more effectively you’ll be able to create high-quality, user-centered products without the drama of endless rework.
In the end, it’s about fostering a partnership where everyone works towards the same goal—building the best possible product for users. With empathy, collaboration, and open communication, the challenges between design and engineering can be transformed from points of friction to opportunities for growth.