Canned

Your design team starts with a Figma UI design system kit like Untitled UI—full of components and styles to kick off the project. But soon, it becomes clear the design doesn’t fit the brand, and developers spend hours adjusting components for the codebase. The quick start becomes a tangle of delays. Nightmare.

While kits like Untitled UI offer a fast setup, they often lead to wasted time trying to align with your brand and codebase. To avoid this, choose a design system that matches your codebase from the start: either select one tailored to your tech stack, like Material Design 3 for React, or build a custom system using Figma’s libraries and design tokens. This alignment prevents endless tweaks and sets up a smoother workflow.

Choose a design system that matches your codebase from the start.

1. The Role of Design Systems in Figma

Effective design systems in Figma ensure consistency, speed up design work, and simplify handoff to development. To avoid costly adjustments, they must align with the project’s codebase from the start.

1.1. What Figma Design Systems Achieve

Design systems in Figma keep work consistent and efficient by providing reusable components, styles, and guidelines. Shared libraries house these elements, speeding up design and ensuring uniformity. For instance, you can define button states (default, hover, active) and update the color scheme in one place, automatically applying changes across the entire system. This streamlines design changes and simplifies the handoff to developers with standardized components.

1.2. Why Alignment Matters

A design system aligned with your codebase ensures a smooth workflow. If Figma designs don’t match the code, developers end up tweaking components to fit frameworks like React or Angular, wasting time and causing frustration. Figma’s design tokens solve this by defining colors, typography, and spacing that can be exported directly into the code. Knowing your codebase’s requirements before building a system in Figma is key to avoiding these issues and setting up the project for success.

 

2. Figma’s Tools for Building Effective Design Systems

Figma offers a range of features that help you create and maintain a design system that aligns with both your brand and your codebase. Let’s explore how to use these tools effectively to keep your design process consistent and efficient.

2.1. Leveraging Figma’s Shared Libraries

Figma’s shared libraries store reusable components, styles, and assets, ensuring consistency across projects. Centralizing elements like buttons, forms, and typography streamlines the design process and keeps everyone aligned.

Tips for Effective Use:

• Build Robust Components: Include all necessary states (default, hover, active) to minimize ad hoc changes.
• Clear Naming: Use simple naming conventions for easy navigation by both designers and developers.
• Regular Maintenance: Update libraries periodically to reflect branding changes and avoid “design drift.”

Avoiding Design Drift — the gradual inconsistency that can develop when elements aren’t regularly updated.

Treat the library as a living resource that evolves with your project’s needs.

2.2. Design Tokens in Figma

Design tokens in Figma define core elements like colors, typography, and spacing, ensuring consistency across your design. Updating a token (e.g., a brand color) automatically changes it everywhere it’s used.

Setting Up Tokens:

• Use plugins like Tokens Studio for Figma to define and export tokens as JSON files, providing key design values for developers to use in CSS variables or JavaScript constants.

Integrating with Code:

• Developers map these JSON tokens into the codebase, reducing inconsistencies by keeping everyone on the same design values.

Going Further:

• Set up multiple token sets for themes (e.g., light/dark mode) and define states (default, hover, active) to guide developers. Regular updates to tokens keep design changes manageable and aligned with development.

2.3. Customizing Pre-Built Kits

Use pre-built kits like Material Design 3 and Shopify’s Polaris, tailored for frameworks like React. These kits are a solid starting point but need adjustments to match your brand.

When to Use Kits:

• If your project uses a compatible framework (e.g., Material Design for React), start with these kits to speed up the design process and align with best practices.

Adapting Components:

• Modify components to fit your brand’s colors, typography, and states. Use Figma’s auto-layout for responsiveness. Once customized, add them to your shared library for easy access.

Figma’s shared libraries, design tokens, and pre-built kits help create a cohesive design system that integrates smoothly with your codebase.

 

3. Case Studies: Figma and Codebase-Specific Design Systems

Figma’s flexibility allows seamless integration with various codebases, whether using popular design systems or building custom libraries.

3.1. Material Design + Figma + React:

Figma’s Material Design kit simplifies the design-to-development process for React projects. It mirrors Material-UI components, providing a clear blueprint for developers.

How to Use:

• Mirror Components: Use Figma’s pre-built Material Design components to match Material-UI in React.
• Leverage Figma Styles: Define colors, typography, and spacing in Figma and export them as design tokens using plugins like “Tokens Studio” for easy syncing with Material-UI.
• Prototyping Interactions: Show how elements (e.g., hover states) should behave using Figma’s prototyping tools.

3.2. Shopify’s Polaris + Figma:

Shopify’s Polaris kit in Figma aligns with React-based Shopify apps, offering components and styles tailored to their framework.

How to Use:

• Direct Component Alignment: Use the Polaris kit in Figma to match Shopify’s React components.
• Component Variants: Create various states (default, hover, active) using Figma’s variants for clear developer guidance.
• Shared Libraries: Save customized Polaris components to a shared library to maintain brand and codebase consistency.

3.3. Creating Custom Libraries for Unique Projects

For projects outside of existing systems, like Angular or Vue, building a custom Figma library allows for a tailored design system.

How to Use:

• Build Components: Design UI elements in Figma that meet specific brand needs, adapting as needed for frameworks like Angular.
• Use Auto-Layout: Create components that adjust to different screen sizes using Figma’s auto-layout.
• Integrate with Code: Export styles as JSON files with plugins like “Tokens Studio” to map directly into the codebase.

By using pre-built kits or custom libraries in Figma, you create a design system tailored to your project, ensuring a smoother handoff to development and reducing rework.

 

4. Streamlining Developer Handoff in Figma

Smooth design-to-development handoff. Figma’s features simplify this process by providing developers with detailed specs.

4.1. Using Figma’s Inspection Tools

Figma’s ‘Inspect’ panel shows developers key design details like sizes, spacing, colors, and typography.

• Access Key Properties: Developers can access CSS properties, color codes, font styles, and values (e.g., border-radius) directly.
• Organize with Auto-Layout: Use auto-layout for consistent spacing, helping developers adapt components to different screen sizes.
• Structure Layers and Assets: Clearly name and group layers for easy navigation.
• Annotate Details: Add comments for interactions, hover effects, and animations.

4.2. Exporting and Synchronizing Design Tokens

Design tokens ensure design consistency in the codebase.

• Use Plugins for Export: Use “Tokens Studio” plugin to export design tokens as JSON for direct integration into CSS, SCSS, or JavaScript.
• Automate the Process: Set up scripts to convert JSON tokens into the codebase format.
• Version Control: Regularly update tokens and use version control to keep designs current.

4.3. Documentation and Communication

Clear documentation in Figma bridges design and development.

• Use Descriptions: Add component descriptions to provide context.
• Annotate Interactions: Comment on interactions like hover states.
• Create a Handoff Page: Create a dedicated page with assets and layout guidelines.
• Handoff Meeting: Walk through the Figma file with the team to address questions.

Using Figma’s tools, exporting tokens, and effective documentation streamline handoffs, reducing errors and keeping design aligned with code.

 

5. Building and Managing a Scalable Design System

Creating a design system that aligns with your codebase is key to maintaining consistency and scalability. Here’s how to evaluate your needs, choose between pre-built or custom systems, and ensure effective management.

5.1. Evaluating Your Codebase Needs

Before selecting a design system, understand your project’s codebase requirements:

• Compatibility: Check if your project uses frameworks like React or Angular. Systems like Material Design and Polaris integrate seamlessly with React, while others may require custom solutions.
• Scope: Decide if your project needs a full-fledged system or a simpler custom build, based on its complexity.
• Developer Input: Collaborate early with developers to align design with technical requirements.

5.2. Existing Systems vs. Custom Build

• Pre-Built Systems: Use ready-made components (e.g., Material Design) for speed and consistency but expect limited customization.
• Custom Systems: Tailor components to fit your brand and framework, allowing flexibility but requiring more time and ongoing maintenance.
• Choosing the Right Path: Opt for pre-built systems when they match your project needs, or go custom for unique branding and less common frameworks.

5.3. Planning for Scalability

• Component Variants: Use variants for states (e.g., default, hover) to streamline updates.
• Design Tokens: Set up tokens for global changes in color, typography, and spacing.
• Auto-Layout: Apply auto-layout for responsive components adaptable to various screen sizes.
• Regular Updates: Sync with developers to align the system with codebase changes, using version control to track updates.
• Documentation: Maintain guidelines in Figma for consistent use and easy onboarding.
• Prototyping: Use Figma’s prototyping tools to test components and gather feedback before development.

Aligning your design system with the codebase and planning for scalability creates a flexible, evolving Figma environment.

 

Final Thoughts

Building a design system in Figma bridges design and development, streamlines workflows, maintains consistency, reduces errors, and avoids wasted adjustments.

Continuous alignment and proactive updates turn the system into a living resource that adapts as the project grows.

 

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What is it?

1. Design System

Definition: A collection of reusable components, guidelines, design principles, patterns, and visual standards that help maintain consistency and efficiency across a product’s user interface. Design systems often include detailed documentation on when and how to use each component.

Examples: Google’s Material Design, Shopify’s Polaris, IBM’s Carbon Design System.

Why It Matters: A well-implemented design system ensures a cohesive user experience and allows designers and developers to work from a unified source of truth.

Google Material Design, IBM Carbon Design System.

 

2. Design Kit

Definition: A set of pre-built UI components, styles, and templates often bundled for quick use in design tools like Figma. Unlike full-fledged design systems, design kits do not necessarily include comprehensive guidelines or principles and are not usually tied to specific codebases.

Examples: Untitled UI, Bootstrap UI Kit for Figma.

Why It Matters: Design kits speed up the initial design process by providing a starting point, but they often require customization to align with the brand’s unique style and codebase.

Sources: Untitled UI, Figma Community Resources.

 

3. Material Design

•Definition: A design system developed by Google that provides guidelines, components, and tools for creating consistent, visually appealing user interfaces across platforms. It includes a Figma design kit tailored for use with frameworks like React.

•Why It Matters: Material Design is widely used because it offers comprehensive documentation and tools that facilitate a cohesive user experience, especially when building products for Google’s ecosystem.

Material Design.

 

4. Custom Libraries (in Figma)

Definition: A feature in Figma that allows teams to create their own set of components, styles, and assets tailored to their brand and project needs. Custom libraries serve as a source of reusable design elements that can be updated globally across a project.

Why It Matters: Custom libraries enable design consistency and flexibility, allowing teams to adapt pre-existing kits or build their own components to align with the codebase.

Figma Documentation.

 

5. Design Tokens

Definition: Named variables that store specific design attributes such as colors, typography, spacing, and sizing. Design tokens are used to maintain consistency across platforms and help bridge the gap between design and code. They can be exported as code, making it easier for developers to implement design accurately.

Why It Matters: Design tokens serve as a single source of truth for design attributes, ensuring that both designers and developers work with the same values, which increases efficiency and consistency.

W3C Design Tokens.

 

6. Canned Kit (Pre-built Design Kit)

Definition: A generalized UI kit not tied to a specific framework or codebase. It offers a collection of reusable components and styles intended for rapid design implementation but often requires significant modification to fit into a specific brand identity or development environment.

Examples: Untitled UI, Bootstrap UI Kit.

Why It Matters: Canned kits provide a jumpstart for the design process, but teams need to assess how well these kits can be adapted to match the project’s unique requirements.

 

7. Handoff (in Figma)

Definition: The process of sharing design specifications, components, and assets with developers in a way that accurately translates the design into code. Figma offers features like design tokens and component inspection to facilitate a smooth handoff.

Why It Matters: An efficient handoff process minimizes the risk of inconsistencies between the design and the final product, saving time and effort during development.

Figma Documentation.