Design Handoff Color Checklist
Color handoff breaks down when values move too quickly from inspiration to implementation. A short review checklist reduces mistakes before a color becomes part of CSS, a design token, or a shared system document.
Checklist
- 1. Confirm the source of the color: design file, screenshot, browser inspector, or extracted palette.
- 2. Check whether the intended use is text, surface, border, overlay, or accent.
- 3. Verify if transparency is required or if the final value should be opaque.
- 4. Choose the format that matches the project convention before storing the value.
- 5. Review contrast and state behavior if the color will be interactive or layered.
- 6. Save the value under a clear token name instead of leaving it as an ad hoc copied string.
Why this matters
Most color bugs are not caused by the browser. They come from ambiguous handoff, inconsistent naming, or values being copied in the wrong format during review. A lightweight checklist makes those issues visible before they spread through multiple components or documents.