Creating design system tokens is a fundamental step for design managers aiming to establish a consistent and scalable design language across products. Design tokens are the smallest units of a design system, representing all the values needed to construct and maintain a product’s UI. They can include colors, typography, spacing, and other core elements. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you effectively create and implement design system tokens:
Step ⓵: Understand the Concept of Design Tokens
Before diving into creating tokens, ensure you and your team understand what design tokens are and their significance in a design system. Design tokens represent design decisions, like colors or fonts, in a format that can be used and understood by both humans and machines.
Step ⓶: Audit Your Current Design
Conduct an audit of your current design to identify and list all the design elements (colors, fonts, spacings, etc.) used. This helps in understanding what needs to be standardized and transformed into tokens.
Step ③: Define Your Token Structure
Organize your tokens in a logical structure. This could be based on their function (e.g., color, typography), or their application (e.g., buttons, forms). A clear, hierarchical structure makes it easier for designers and developers to find and understand each token.
Step ④: Name Your Tokens Consistently
Develop a consistent naming convention for your tokens. This might include naming based on their purpose (e.g., primary-color, secondary-font-size) and ensures clarity and ease of use.Step ⑤: Collaborate with Your Team
Involve designers, developers, and other stakeholders in the token creation process. This ensures the tokens are practical and meet the needs of those who will use them.
Step ⑥: Build for Scalability and Flexibility
Your design system should evolve with your product. Make sure your tokens are flexible enough to accommodate future changes without disrupting existing designs.
Step ⑦: Implement Tokens Across Platforms
Ensure your tokens are versatile enough to be applicable across various platforms and devices, considering each platform's specific guidelines and constraints.
Step ⑧: Document and Share
Thoroughly document your tokens, including their properties and use cases. Make this documentation accessible to your team to ensure consistency in usage.
Step ⑨: Test and Iterate
Apply your tokens in real-world projects, gather feedback, and refine them as needed. This iterative process helps in maintaining the relevance and effectiveness of your tokens.
Step ①⓪: Educate Your Team
Provide training and resources to your team on how to use the tokens correctly. This ensures everyone understands their importance and how they contribute to a consistent user experience.
Step ①①: Automate Where Possible
Use tools and software to automate the implementation and management of your design tokens. This can help in maintaining consistency and efficiency.
Step ①②: Measure Impact
Finally, evaluate the effectiveness of your tokens. Look at metrics like design consistency, speed of implementation, and overall user experience to gauge their impact.By following these steps, you as a design manager can create a set of design system tokens that not only streamline your design process but also ensure a consistent and scalable user interface across your product range.
“The themes are always changing, but the tokens stay the same” ―Kyle Gach, Storybook