Why Design Engineering is the Secret Weapon for Early-Stage Startups

When engineers design and designers code, the feedback loop collapses from weeks to hours.

The Problem with Handoff Silos Traditional agency models pass static Sketch or Figma mockups over a wall to developers who spend weeks interpreting intent.

The Design Engineering Paradigm 1. **Shared Token Primitives**: Spacing, typography, and color variables match 1:1 between Figma variables and CSS tokens. 2. **Interactive States from Day One**: Hover states, micro-gestures, spring animations, and keyboard accessibility are engineered immediately. 3. **Compound Components**: Modular components provide flexibility without breaking visual coherence.