Design Tokens
What are Design Tokens in Product Design?
Design Tokens are the smallest pieces of a design system that store visual design attributes such as colors, fonts, spacing, and other style values in a reusable and consistent way across digital products.
Synonyms: Design Variables, Style Tokens, UI Tokens, Design Attributes
Why Design Tokens are Important
Design Tokens help maintain consistency in product design by ensuring that the same design values are used throughout an application or website. They make it easier to update styles globally without manually changing each instance.
How Design Tokens are Used
Design Tokens are used by developers and designers to bridge the gap between design and code. They are stored in a format that can be read by design tools and development environments, allowing for seamless updates and synchronization.
Examples of Design Tokens
Common examples include color codes (e.g., primary blue: #0055FF), font sizes (e.g., heading size: 24px), spacing units (e.g., margin: 16px), and border radius values (e.g., button corners: 4px).
Frequently Asked Questions
- What formats are Design Tokens stored in? They are often stored in JSON, YAML, or similar formats that can be easily integrated into code.
- Can Design Tokens be customized? Yes, they can be tailored to fit the branding and style guidelines of any product.
- Do Design Tokens replace style guides? No, they complement style guides by providing a technical way to implement design decisions consistently.
- Who uses Design Tokens? Both designers and developers use them to ensure design consistency and efficient collaboration.
