Contractor‑Ready UX-to-Code Pack: Exact Deliverables That Cut Handoff Rework in Half

Treat the handoff as a single deliverable: a zipped UX-to-code pack with a predictable structure. At minimum include: 1) Figma handoff file (pages named), 2) design tokens exported as JSON, 3) a component inventory CSV, 4) asset export folder with presets, 5) a short dev README, and 6) acceptance-test checklist per screen. Each item reduces a common ambiguity: tokens stop color/spacing debates, the inventory prevents duplicate components, and the README answers the “where do I start?” question.

You don’t need a massive design system to make this work. The goal is to give a contractor exactly the values and files they’ll reference in code — not to ship a polished design-system product. When you follow consistent naming and include export settings, contractors can map Figma tokens to their build system (Tailwind, CSS variables, component props) without guessing.

Be literal with names — the contractor should be able to navigate by filename. Use the exact page names: COVER, TOKENS, COMPONENTS, PAGES, PROTOTYPES. Within COMPONENTS, use slash-style naming to mirror code (e.g., Button/Primary/Large). This maps cleanly to component folders in code and to token hierarchies.

Set export presets for every asset the contractor might need. For icons provide SVG and PNG@1x, PNG@2x when rasterized sizes are required. For large images provide both .webp and .jpg. On every frame that will be used as a build artifact, add a single export preset and a filename pattern (example: login-screen.header@1x.png). Document these patterns in the README so contractors can script bulk downloads when needed.

Export tokens from Figma as separate JSON files that match the consumption pattern of common tooling (Style Dictionary, CSS variables, or a simple token import script). Create at least three token files: colors.json, spacing.json, typography.json. Use semantic names (color.primary, spacing.8, font.body.16) rather than raw values — semantic names survive implementation changes.

Include a short token-mapping table in the TOKENS page showing how to translate tokens into code (example: color.primary -> --color-primary in CSS, or theme.colors.primary in Tailwind config). If you can't automate token syncing yet, keep token files under version control in the repo and list the exact export command or plugin used so contractors can reproduce the JSON.

Deliver a component inventory CSV (or Google Sheet) listing each component instance used on pages, its Figma name, variants required, and a canonical code prop signature. This avoids the common ‘which of these 5 buttons is the right one?’ question and gives contractors a quick mapping from visual instances to the single UI component they should implement.

Pair the inventory with minimal acceptance tests: per-screen JSON checklists that name selectors and what to assert (e.g., 'login-button: visible, text=

, disabled state shows spinner', 'error-toast: red border #E53E3E and role=alert'). These aren’t full integration tests; they’re human- and CI-friendly criteria contractors can use to mark tickets Done and for you to validate before closing.

The README.md should be a two‑minute start document: purpose of the repo, where tokens live, how to import them (exact commands), naming conventions, and the path to acceptance tests. Add a short ‘Onboarding checklist’ with the three first steps a contractor should run: 1) clone repo, 2) npm install/build, 3) import tokens from /tokens (or run token sync script).

Also include a short section on expected communication: preferred channels for blockers, ticket template for edge cases, and the owner who can make acceptance decisions. Clear ownership prevents the contractor from opening dozens of tickets for decisions you intended to make.