How to Build a Logo Handoff Package Developers Will Actually Use

Problem: Designers often deliver assets without clear implementation guidance, leaving engineers to guess. This post outlines a handoff package that minimizes friction and ensures consistent logo rendering.

What to include in the package

1. Source files: AI or Figma file with layers and named components
2. SVG sprites: optimized SVGs for each variant (glyph, stacked, horizontal, micro-icon)
3. Raster exports: PNGs for legacy systems at common sizes
4. Favicon set: .ico and SVG favicon + manifest icons for mobile
5. Color tokens: HEX and accessible color pairings for light/dark backgrounds
6. Usage guide: explicit rules for placement, clearspace, and unacceptable treatments
7. Implementation recipes: CSS examples, responsive asset rules, and JS snippets (if dynamic)

SVG best practices

Deliver clean SVGs with the following checks:

• Remove metadata and editor-specific attributes
• Include viewBox and preserveAspectRatio attributes
• Convert text to outlines or include fallback fonts with font-face rules
• Use shape primitives instead of embedded raster images

Tokenizing the identity

Expose variables for color, spacing, and breakpoints. Example token set:

• --brand-color-primary: #5A2B1A
• --brand-contrast-on-primary: #ffffff
• --logo-breakpoint-small: 160px

Responsive logic and examples

Provide clear rules for responsive switching:

  /* CSS example */
  @media (max-width: 160px) {
    .site-logo { background-image: url('/assets/logo-micro.svg'); }
  }
  

Also provide a JavaScript snippet for apps where programmatic switching is needed based on container size.

Accessibility and performance

Ensure color contrast for small marks and provide high-contrast alternate versions. Optimize SVGs to minimize file size and use inline SVG for critical logos to avoid extra requests. For non-critical logos, use preloading and caching strategies.

Common implementation pitfalls and how to avoid them

• Missing viewBox causing scaling issues — always include it
• Using bitmap exports where SVGs suffice — use vector formats to preserve sharpness
• Ambiguous usage rules — provide explicit do's and don'ts with visual examples

Developer-friendly extras

• Include a ZIP with a simple demo HTML file showing how to use each variant
• Provide a small change-log if you update assets
• Offer a short video walkthrough or recorded meeting to explain tricky aspects

'A great handoff makes the developer the brand's best friend.' — Handoff principle

Conclusion

Designers who invest in clean, well-documented handoffs reduce errors, speed implementation, and protect brand integrity. Think of the package as a product: ship working examples, clear tokens, and a demo that gets teams running in minutes.