How to Build a Token-Based Component Library in Figma

Introduction: Design Systems That Scale

Design systems are only as good as their ability to adapt—and that’s where design tokens come in. A token-based component library separates design decisions (like colors, spacing, and type) from structure, giving you the power to change themes, brands, or platforms without rebuilding your components.

In this guide, we’ll walk through how to create a flexible, token-powered component library in Figma using variables, naming conventions, and reusable patterns.

1. What Are Design Tokens?

Design tokens are named variables that define the foundational styles of a design system, such as:

Colors: Primary/Brand, Text/Heading
Typography: Font/Body, Size/XL
Spacing: Spacing/Small, Gap/Medium
Borders, radii, shadows, etc.

Think of tokens as the API for your design—a layer between your visual system and your components.

2. Why Use Tokens in Figma?

✅ Consistency
Update once, reflect everywhere.

✅ Theme Switching
Swap styles between brands, light/dark modes, or platforms.

✅ Developer Alignment
Tokens in Figma can mirror those in code (CSS variables, Tailwind, Style Dictionary).

✅ Faster Maintenance
No need to change styles manually across dozens of components.

3. Set Up Token Variables in Figma

Start by creating a Variables collection (Figma’s token feature):

a. Group by Type:

Color
Typography
Spacing
Radius
Elevation

b. Use Semantic Naming:

Avoid raw values like #FF5C5C. Instead, use:

Color/Primary
Text/Body
Spacing/XL

You can define multiple modes (themes or brands) within a collection and switch between them.

4. Bind Tokens to Component Properties

Now that your variables are set up, use them inside components:

Use Color/Primary for button backgrounds
Use Spacing/Medium for padding
Apply Text/Label to button text

You’re not styling based on hardcoded values—you’re binding logic to variables.

This allows every instance of the component to inherit its style dynamically.

5. Build Smart Components with Auto Layout + Variants

Make sure components are:

Built with Auto Layout
Use Variants for states (Default, Hover, Disabled)
Use variables for all colors, spacing, and fonts

📦 Example:
A Button with:

Background: Color/Primary
Text: Text/Label
Padding: Spacing/Medium
Border Radius: Radius/Small

Now, this one component supports multiple themes or brands, just by changing the variable mode.

6. Organize Your Component Library

A clean library helps teams reuse and scale easily.

Suggested structure:

Foundations
├── Tokens (Variables)
├── Typography
├── Color
Components
├── Buttons
├── Inputs
├── Cards
├── Modals
Templates
├── Pages
├── Layouts
Documentation
├── Usage Guidelines

Use Figma’s Library Publishing features to make these available across your organization.

7. Switch Themes or Brands with Modes

Once your components use variables, you can:

Create Light / Dark themes
Create Brand A / Brand B themes
Preview mode changes instantly

Just go to the Variables panel → Switch Mode, and watch the entire UI update in seconds.

✅ Ideal for multi-brand, multi-platform, or multi-theme design systems.

8. Sync with Code (Optional but Powerful)

You can sync design tokens from Figma to code using:

Style Dictionary
Tokens Studio (Figma plugin)
REST APIs or Figma-to-code workflows

🎯 This ensures designers and developers stay in perfect alignment—no more guessing hex codes or padding values.

Conclusion: Tokens Future-Proof Your System

A token-based component library turns your design system into a dynamic engine. It makes design consistent, scalable, and ready for whatever comes next—be it a new brand, a theme update, or a major redesign.

Figma’s Variables + Components system lets you build once and adapt infinitely. And with developers increasingly working from tokens too, it’s the bridge your product needs.

Next up: “Best Practices for Managing Design Tokens Across Large Teams” — tips on naming, structuring, documenting, and scaling tokens in the real world.