Design Tokens – The Building Blocks of Modern Design Systems
Working with ad agencies has taught me that the smallest details can have the biggest impact. I recall a day in our design lab when our lead designer and I reexamined our color tokens and marveled at how these tiny values improved consistency. I’m excited to explain how design tokens serve as the building blocks of modern design systems.
Overview
Design tokens are the atomic elements that encapsulate a product’s visual identity, forming the foundation for consistency and scalability.
Understanding Design Tokens
- What They Are: They store design values like color codes, font sizes, and spacing in a machine-readable format.
- Consistency: Centralizing design decisions ensures every component adheres to the same guidelines.
- Collaboration: They create a shared language between designers and developers, minimizing errors.
- Scalability and Maintenance: Centralized tokens can be easily updated to reflect new trends or brand changes.
Conclusion
Design tokens drive consistency, facilitate collaboration, and enable seamless design updates across platforms.