Figma Ready for Dev: A Handoff Checklist
Use Ready for dev to identify reviewed implementation scope, then pair the status with explicit acceptance checks. A status communicates readiness; it does not freeze the design or prove that every edge case is specified.
Before you start: Ready for dev is available on paid plans and requires a Full or Dev seat. Have a reviewed flow and confirm that the engineer can open the file and use the inspection tools needed for handoff.
Worked example: For an invite flow, include valid invitation, expired invitation, already-a-member and insufficient-permission states. Leave the unapproved bulk-invite concept outside the ready section.
Step-by-step guide
Bound the release
Group only the frames the team intends to build into a clearly named section. Keep alternatives nearby but visibly outside that boundary so a developer cannot mistake exploration for approved scope.
Check the state inventory
Walk the invite flow with an engineer and compare every transition against the requirements. Record unresolved behavior as a blocker rather than hiding it in an old comment thread.
Check implementation inputs
Confirm that component names, assets and relevant design variables are understandable. Ask the developer to locate the error copy and recovery behavior without a narrated tour.
Apply the ready status
Select the reviewed section, then click Mark as ready for dev. Link the section from the implementation ticket and record which scenarios were reviewed, which were excluded and who answered the open questions.
Review subsequent changes
Most design edits after readiness trigger the Changed state, but shared-library instance updates and changes to values of attached variables or styles do not. Communicate those changes explicitly. To withdraw readiness, click Ready for dev on the section and choose Remove status. On Organization and Enterprise plans, review a changed design, optionally add a reason and click Done with changes to clear Changed.
Close with a handoff check
Have the implementer confirm that the shared link opens correctly and that the first ticket matches the section. Save a named file version when the team needs a stable historical reference.
Common mistakes
Ready means immutable
Developers can act on an old understanding if the design changes silently. Announce behavior changes and update the ticket as well as the canvas.
One status covers every concept
A broad ready section can accidentally include experiments. Move unresolved alternatives outside the implementation boundary before marking it.
Approval without an implementer
A design-only signoff can miss missing assets or behavior. Ask an engineer to review the acceptance checks before the status changes.
Tips
Name sections by release scope, not by the designer who made them.
Keep a short list of excluded states next to the handoff summary.
Link the affected section directly from each implementation ticket.
Sources and verification
Based on product documentation checked on 2026-10-24. This is a documentation-based guide, not a hands-on benchmark. Features and availability can change.