Design & Creative Tools · Zeplin + Claude
Zeplin MCP with Claude: Faster, Smoother Design Handoff
The short answer
Claude works with Zeplin through the Model Context Protocol (MCP), an open standard that acts like a universal adapter between Claude and the tool. Once connected, Claude can read project details, organise screens and share asset links, and help automate design handoff. Your organisation controls what Claude can access and approves consequential actions.
What is Zeplin?
Zeplin is a collaborative workspace where designers and developers organise and hand off design projects. Product designers use it to share screens and assets, while front-end and mobile developers use it to find measurements, colours, text styles and exported files. Product managers and design leads use it to keep track of which versions are ready for development. It sits at the centre of the handoff between design and engineering.
How Claude connects to Zeplin through MCP
The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard that lets Claude securely use other software, reading information and taking actions with permissions the organisation controls. Think of it as a universal adapter between Claude and the tool. Zeplin supports this through its MCP server or a direct API, so the connection is built on a method the tool already provides.
Once connected, Claude can typically fetch project details, list screens and components, and find the right asset links for a given feature. It can also help organise screens into sections and draft handoff notes in plain language. Because each action runs through the access granted, Claude only sees what the connected account is allowed to see.
Permissions and approvals keep people in charge. Access is set to least privilege, so Claude reads only the projects it needs. Consequential changes, such as reorganising a shared project or sending links to a wider team, can be set to require a named person's approval before they take effect.
What you can automate
Automated handoff summaries
A product designer finishes a set of screens and asks Claude to summarise what is ready for development. Claude reads the project, lists the new screens and components, and drafts a clear handoff note. The developer receives a concise list of what to build, saving time on back-and-forth messages before sprint planning.
Screen organisation for large projects
A design lead managing a large app wants screens grouped by user journey. Claude can suggest a structure based on screen names and sections, then apply the agreed grouping once approved. This keeps long-running projects easy to navigate for new team members and stakeholders.
Quick asset link sharing
A marketing manager needs the latest approved banner and icon exports for a campaign. Instead of searching through projects, they ask Claude in plain language. Claude locates the relevant assets and shares the links with the right people, reducing delays and the risk of someone using an outdated file.
Developer questions answered faster
A front-end developer asks which font size and colour apply to a button in a specific screen. Claude retrieves the relevant specifications from the project and answers the question directly. Developers spend less time hunting for values and more time building the feature.
Status reporting for product teams
A product manager wants a weekly view of which screens moved from design to ready-for-development. Claude can review project activity and produce a short status summary for the team meeting. The report is typically accurate to the project's current state, with the manager checking it before sharing.
An end-to-end workflow: Design-to-development handoff with ticket tracking
TriggerA designer marks a set of screens as ready for review in Zeplin.
Claude fetches the new and updated screens from the Zeplin project through the MCP connection.
Claude drafts a handoff summary listing each screen, its components and any notes left by the designer.
The design lead reviews and approves the summary inside the workflow.
Claude creates a linked task in the team's ticketing system, such as Jira, with the handoff summary and asset links attached.
Claude posts a notification to the developers' channel in Microsoft Teams with the ticket reference.
OutcomeDevelopers start work from a consistent, approved handoff with fewer clarifying questions. Typical outcomes include shorter handoff cycles and a clear audit trail linking each design version to its development ticket.
How we set it up
Free automation audit
We review how your design and product teams currently hand off work and identify the workflows most worth automating. You receive a clear list of priorities at no cost.
Secure connection
We connect Claude to Zeplin using the sign-in method your team uses, either OAuth sign-in or an API key, with least-privilege access. Permissions are set so Claude only reaches the projects it needs.
Workflow design
We design the end-to-end flow across Zeplin and your other systems, such as Microsoft 365, your ticketing tool or CRM. People approve every consequential action.
Testing and launch
We test the workflow against real past projects and handoffs, then launch with monitoring and audit logs so you can see every action Claude takes.
Team training
We train designers, developers and managers on how to use the new workflow and what to check before approving changes, so the team stays confident and in control.
Who benefits
- Product designers
- Less time writing handoff notes and answering the same questions, so more time for design work.
- Front-end and mobile developers
- Faster access to specifications, colours and asset links, reducing wait time before building.
- Product and project managers
- Clearer status visibility across projects without manual reporting each week.
- Design and engineering leads
- Consistent handoff standards and an audit trail linking design versions to development tasks.
Security and control
- Least-privilege access, so Claude only reads the projects and actions it has been granted.
- Named human approval for consequential changes such as reorganising shared projects or sharing links widely.
- Audit logs that record each action Claude takes, so teams can review what happened.
- Testing against real past handoffs before any workflow goes live.
- Clear rules on which data Claude may use and where it is processed.
For teams in the US, UK, India and the Middle East
Organisations in the United States and the United Kingdom need to align design data handling with their own privacy and security obligations. Teams in India must consider the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, when personal data appears in project files or comments. Organisations in the UAE and Saudi Arabia must follow local data protection laws. Custom applications can be hosted in India, the United States, the United Kingdom or the European Union, with the hosting region chosen to meet your requirements.
Learn more about Claude and MCP
Anthropic's AI model and assistant.
Secure links between Claude and business tools.
How engineers build and change software with Claude.
Hosted agents that run multi-step work.
The open standard Claude uses to connect to tools.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Zeplin MCP server do?
The Zeplin MCP server acts as a secure bridge between Zeplin and AI tools such as Claude. It lets Claude read project details, screens and asset links, and carry out permitted actions. The server uses Zeplin's supported connection methods, so access follows the rules your organisation sets in Zeplin.
Is connecting Zeplin to Claude secure?
Security depends on how the connection is set up. We use the supported sign-in method, either OAuth sign-in or an API key, and apply least-privilege access. Every action is logged, and consequential changes can require human approval. Results always depend on your own configuration and policies.
What can Claude do with Zeplin once connected?
Typically, Claude can fetch project details, list and organise screens, find asset links and draft handoff summaries. It can answer developer questions about specifications and help report on project status. The exact actions available depend on the access granted and the workflow we design together.
How long does setup take?
Setup time varies with the number of projects, systems involved and approval rules. A focused connection with one workflow is often completed within a few weeks, including testing and team training. We confirm a realistic timeline after the free automation audit.
Which Zeplin plan or permissions are needed?
Access depends on your Zeplin account type and the permissions your administrator grants to the connected account. In general, the account needs read access to the relevant projects, with write access only for actions you want Claude to take. We confirm the exact requirements during the audit.