Index
- Designers and developers: a love-hate relationship?
- What can designers do to make life easier for developers?
- When the problem is not between UX designers and developers
- Conclusion
Whether you are on the design team or the development team, you have all stumbled upon such a meme at one time or another:
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The relationship between designers and developers is never talked about enough, yet it is truly crucial, both for the success of a project and for the creation of interdisciplinary relationships between teams that are constructive and promote a more efficient workflow.
That is why we thought we would dedicate this article to a reflection on possible steps that can be implemented to improve the relationship between designers and developers.
Designers and developers: a love-hate relationship?
It may sound strange to some, but that is exactly how it is... designers and developers are oriented towards the same goal: finding creative solutions to problems. Besides tools and media, the main difference between their work is that their results are consumed by a totally different audience or end point. If designers handle the interaction with people, developers handle the interaction with machines. Let us take a closer look at what we mean.
UX designers are responsible for creating experiences that are intuitive, accessible and meaningful for users. Their work always starts with a key question: ‘How will the user feel and behave in this context?’ They design flows, information hierarchies and interfaces with human interaction in mind. They study needs, expectations, habits. Every visual or structural choice, the position of a button, the clarity of a label, the feedback of an action, serves to guide the person naturally towards a goal. By doing this, UX designers translate complexity into simplicity, anticipate obstacles and remove friction. In short: they design the way a person communicates with a system.
Developers, on the other hand, build the technical bridge that makes that interaction possible. Their job is to make what the UX designer has imagined work. They interface not with people, but with code, systems and machines. When a user presses a button, it is the developer who ensures that the action generates a concrete response: send data, save content, change the screen. They take care of the logic, the performance, the invisible architecture that makes everything run without errors or slowdowns. In practice, where the UX designer focuses on how the interface behaves for the user, the developer deals with how the interface behaves for the system.
Thus, it is clear that UX designers and developers work on different sides of the same interface. One translates human needs into understandable forms, the other translates those forms into operational functions. These are different, but complementary perspectives.
That is why a successful product is not the result of perfect design or flawless code, but of the ability of the two roles to dialogue, respect each other and build together. This is the only way to create digital experiences that are functional, desirable and solid.
UX designers are responsible for creating experiences that are intuitive, accessible and meaningful for users. Their work always starts with a key question: ‘How will the user feel and behave in this context?’ They design flows, information hierarchies and interfaces with human interaction in mind. They study needs, expectations, habits. Every visual or structural choice, the position of a button, the clarity of a label, the feedback of an action, serves to guide the person naturally towards a goal. By doing this, UX designers translate complexity into simplicity, anticipate obstacles and remove friction. In short: they design the way a person communicates with a system.
Developers, on the other hand, build the technical bridge that makes that interaction possible. Their job is to make what the UX designer has imagined work. They interface not with people, but with code, systems and machines. When a user presses a button, it is the developer who ensures that the action generates a concrete response: send data, save content, change the screen. They take care of the logic, the performance, the invisible architecture that makes everything run without errors or slowdowns. In practice, where the UX designer focuses on how the interface behaves for the user, the developer deals with how the interface behaves for the system.
Thus, it is clear that UX designers and developers work on different sides of the same interface. One translates human needs into understandable forms, the other translates those forms into operational functions. These are different, but complementary perspectives.
That is why a successful product is not the result of perfect design or flawless code, but of the ability of the two roles to dialogue, respect each other and build together. This is the only way to create digital experiences that are functional, desirable and solid.
What can designers do to make life easier for developers?
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There are many small steps that can be taken to make life easier for developers and they all ultimately revolve around one basic element: communication.
We talked about this in depth in the article ‘Why do so many software projects fail?’ and we recommend you give it a read, regardless of whether you are a designer or a developer. However, if we were to summarise the steps in a series of main points, they would be as follows:
- Understand the feasibility of a design
- Do not make design changes after the start of the development phase
- Reuse components effectively
Each of these points has several aspects to consider. Let us therefore look at them in more detail.
1) Understand the feasibility of a design
To collaborate effectively with developers, UX designers need to design taking into account the technical constraints and possibilities offered by the framework or architecture used. This avoids frustration on both sides and ensures that ideas can become reality in a smooth and sustainable manner.
Discussing the feasibility of a design
Before finalising any proposal, a discussion with the development team is important to understand whether certain solutions are achievable. This applies to complex components as well as micro-interactions or unusual layouts. A design may be perfect on paper, but too costly to realise with the available technology.
Include developers in the initial part of the project to define functionalities
When developers participate in the conception phase, they can point out constraints or suggest alternative solutions that are easier to implement. This leads to more informed decisions and reduces future changes.
Understanding tradeoffs between design choices and how they affect engineering
For example: an animated effect can improve the user experience, but if it slows loading or requires additional libraries, the trade-off must be considered. UX is not only “nice to use”, it is also “possible to realise”. This requires dialogue, not just briefings.
Design reflecting the framework/language/architecture used
Each language or framework has its own way of structuring the interface: for example, React favours modular components, Flutter works with nested widgets. If the design takes these structures into account, it becomes much easier to implement and maintain.
Discussing the feasibility of a design
Before finalising any proposal, a discussion with the development team is important to understand whether certain solutions are achievable. This applies to complex components as well as micro-interactions or unusual layouts. A design may be perfect on paper, but too costly to realise with the available technology.
Include developers in the initial part of the project to define functionalities
When developers participate in the conception phase, they can point out constraints or suggest alternative solutions that are easier to implement. This leads to more informed decisions and reduces future changes.
Understanding tradeoffs between design choices and how they affect engineering
For example: an animated effect can improve the user experience, but if it slows loading or requires additional libraries, the trade-off must be considered. UX is not only “nice to use”, it is also “possible to realise”. This requires dialogue, not just briefings.
Design reflecting the framework/language/architecture used
Each language or framework has its own way of structuring the interface: for example, React favours modular components, Flutter works with nested widgets. If the design takes these structures into account, it becomes much easier to implement and maintain.
2) Do not make design changes after the start of the development phase
Changing designs during development is one of the main friction factors between designers and developers. Although it may seem like a small change, each modification involves checks, adjustments and sometimes bugs. Best avoided.
Validating the design before the sprint for developers begins
A final validation phase before starting the sprint is essential. It allows checking that everything is implementable, understandable and defined in detail (flows, edge cases, fallbacks). This saves time, avoids errors and improves mutual trust.
Hand-offs
Hand-offs are moments dedicated to the transition from design to development. They serve to clarify interactions, discuss any doubts and ensure that the technical team has everything it needs to get off to a smooth start.
Notes to explain what an element is for and what it does
Notes inserted directly into the design files (e.g. in Figma or prototypes) help developers to understand logic, states, rules. ‘This button only appears when the state is deactivated’, ‘This tooltip appears after 3 seconds’; each written detail is one less misunderstanding.
Ask how much documentation developers need
Every team has different needs: some want complete documentation, others work well with a navigable prototype. Asking explicitly what is needed avoids wasting time and ensures an effective handoff.
Validating the design before the sprint for developers begins
A final validation phase before starting the sprint is essential. It allows checking that everything is implementable, understandable and defined in detail (flows, edge cases, fallbacks). This saves time, avoids errors and improves mutual trust.
Hand-offs
Hand-offs are moments dedicated to the transition from design to development. They serve to clarify interactions, discuss any doubts and ensure that the technical team has everything it needs to get off to a smooth start.
Notes to explain what an element is for and what it does
Notes inserted directly into the design files (e.g. in Figma or prototypes) help developers to understand logic, states, rules. ‘This button only appears when the state is deactivated’, ‘This tooltip appears after 3 seconds’; each written detail is one less misunderstanding.
Ask how much documentation developers need
Every team has different needs: some want complete documentation, others work well with a navigable prototype. Asking explicitly what is needed avoids wasting time and ensures an effective handoff.
3) Reuse components effectively
Coherence and reusability are crucial not only for the user experience, but also for the quality of the code. Designing with components that already exist or are designed to be modular speeds up development and reduces the possibility of errors.
Reuse components
There is no need to invent something new every time. If a button, card or module already exists in the design system, using them ensures visual and technical consistency. The more components you reuse, the more stable and scalable the product will be.
Components reflecting the framework/language/architecture used
Designing considering how components are built into the technical system allows for real reusability. In fact, every technology has its preferred patterns. If a design is designed in a way that is compatible with these logics, development is faster and more robust.
Naming conventions according to their syntax
Using names for components, variants and states that are consistent with those used in the code (e.g. primary-button, card-list-item) helps developers to immediately link design elements with files and modules to be created or updated.
Warn about changes to libraries/design system
If changes are made to shared components or the design system during the project (e.g. new spaces, new tokens, updating a card), it is essential to communicate them immediately. Otherwise, you risk breaking elements that have already been implemented.
Reuse components
There is no need to invent something new every time. If a button, card or module already exists in the design system, using them ensures visual and technical consistency. The more components you reuse, the more stable and scalable the product will be.
Components reflecting the framework/language/architecture used
Designing considering how components are built into the technical system allows for real reusability. In fact, every technology has its preferred patterns. If a design is designed in a way that is compatible with these logics, development is faster and more robust.
Naming conventions according to their syntax
Using names for components, variants and states that are consistent with those used in the code (e.g. primary-button, card-list-item) helps developers to immediately link design elements with files and modules to be created or updated.
Warn about changes to libraries/design system
If changes are made to shared components or the design system during the project (e.g. new spaces, new tokens, updating a card), it is essential to communicate them immediately. Otherwise, you risk breaking elements that have already been implemented.
When the problem is not between UX designers and developers
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People often talk about the need to improve communication between UX designers and developers, as if the problem were only at the operational level. However, there is another truth: in many realities, collaboration between these teams exists, and yet, something still fails. That “something” is often the context in which they operate, i.e. a context lacking support and respect for the process of cross-functional collaboration, especially on the part of decision-makers.
In many cases, the real barrier to collaboration between designers and developers lies not in the willingness or ability of the teams, but in organisational or management decisions that are imposed from above. Project or team leaders or managers sometimes disregard the shared workflow, effectively compromising the effectiveness of collaboration and jeopardising the success of the product. How? Let's look at some examples:
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Starting the development phase without having completed the design
Some managers, in their haste to meet deadlines, may decide to start frontend development before the design has been finally approved or completed. This creates a serious problem, because developers risk working on non-finalised versions of the interface, wasting time and resources in realising something that might later be modified.
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Making changes on the development side without informing the designers
Likewise, in some situations, changes may be made to the code by the developers (or even by management, if they are in any way involved in the development process) without being properly communicated to the designers. These changes may not respect the original vision of the interface, creating visual inconsistencies and confusion, with a direct impact on the user experience.
So what to do in such cases?
The mismatch created by management hindering collaboration between designers and developers is a real problem that needs to be addressed proactively. The key lies in dialogue and expectation management. In such circumstances, it is essential that technical teams (designers and developers) take the initiative to establish clear rules and communicate proactively with managers.
Some proposals could be:
Some proposals could be:
- Formalise regular alignment meetings
- Educate management on the importance of respecting cross-functional workflow
- Create clear and constantly updated documentation of changes
- Create a corporate culture of respect for each team
- Educate management on the importance of a shared vision
Conclusion
The synergy between UX designers and developers is a key factor for the success of any digital product. It is not just about collaboration between two separate teams, but a strategic integration of complementary skills: on the one hand a deep understanding of user needs, on the other the ability to translate these needs into technically sound, scalable and high-performance solutions.
For this integration to really work, it is necessary to act on several levels: building clear processes, fostering continuous communication and ensuring that project decisions are also technically sustainable. At the same time, it is essential that the organisation, and in particular the management, recognises and respects the times, roles and responsibilities of each figure involved in the development cycle.
Investing in effective collaboration between UX and development not only means improving internal efficiency, but also increasing the quality of the user experience and the competitiveness of the product on the market.
For this integration to really work, it is necessary to act on several levels: building clear processes, fostering continuous communication and ensuring that project decisions are also technically sustainable. At the same time, it is essential that the organisation, and in particular the management, recognises and respects the times, roles and responsibilities of each figure involved in the development cycle.
Investing in effective collaboration between UX and development not only means improving internal efficiency, but also increasing the quality of the user experience and the competitiveness of the product on the market.
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