Design systems are the backbone of consistent, scalable UI. But building one from scratch every time is inefficient—especially when you can start with a solid Figma template. Still, not all templates are created equal.
A great design system template gives you structure, flexibility, and speed. A bad one adds clutter, confusion, and technical debt.
In this guide, we’ll cover what your Figma design system template must include, what it should avoid, and how to create a scalable foundation that empowers teams from day one.
🧱 What to Include in a Great Design System Template
A successful design system template balances completeness with clarity. Here are the essentials to include:
🎨 1. Color Tokens (With Modes & Naming Logic)
Don’t just add color swatches. Define your palette using Figma Variables, grouped by semantic purpose—not just visual value.
✅ Include:
- Semantic tokens like
color.text.primary,color.bg.surface,color.accent.primary - Modes for light/dark themes
- Consistent naming hierarchy
🚫 Avoid:
- Hardcoded hex values on components
- Visual color names (
blue-100,green-500) without context
🔡 2. Typography Tokens and Styles
Your system should include:
- Font families and weights
- Heading and body styles
- Line height and spacing rules
✅ Use Figma Text Styles and Variables to create tokens like:
cssCopyEditfont.heading.lg
font.body.sm
🚫 Avoid:
- Recreating text styles manually on each component
- Naming styles inconsistently (
Header Large,Body L,bodyText, etc.)
🧩 3. Core Components (Button, Input, Checkbox, etc.)
At a minimum, include:
- Buttons (default, hover, active, disabled)
- Inputs and form fields
- Checkbox, radio, toggle
- Alerts, badges, and tags
Each should:
- Be built with variants
- Include component properties
- Use Auto Layout and tokens
Bonus: use icons as swap-able instances to avoid nesting complexity.
📦 4. Layout Grids and Spacing Scales
✅ Include:
- A spacing system (e.g., 4pt, 8pt, 16pt scale)
- Layout grids for mobile, tablet, desktop breakpoints
- Auto Layout presets or containers
Set these up in a dedicated “Layout” or “Guides” page, so everyone starts with the same foundations.
🚫 Avoid:
- Manually adjusting spacing between every element
- Inconsistent layout rules across breakpoints
📄 5. Documentation Inside the File
Your design system template should explain itself. Use a dedicated page to:
- Show how to use each component
- Link to your token reference
- Explain contribution rules or naming systems
Tools like Figma’s built-in sections, sticky notes, or even embedded Loom videos can make onboarding smoother.
🚫 Avoid:
- Leaving documentation in Slack or Notion only
- Relying on tribal knowledge
🔁 6. Naming & Layer Structure Conventions
Use consistent, logical naming that scales:
✅ Example:
css Button / Primary / Filled
Input / Textfield / Error
Icon / System / Alert
Also apply:
- Proper layer names inside components
- Clear Auto Layout structure
- Hidden/unhidden content labeled properly
This helps devs inspect components and understand usage without confusion.
🔧 7. Ready-to-Use Page Templates (Optional)
For product teams, having wireframe-ready templates can accelerate sprints:
- Sign-in screen
- Dashboard layout
- Table/list views
Just make sure they use your core components and tokens, not detached styles.
🚫 What to Avoid in a Design System Template
Now let’s cover what to leave out (or handle with care):
❌ Overloaded Variants
A button with 100+ combinations? Don’t do it.
Stick to essential variants:
- Size (sm, md, lg)
- State (default, hover, active, disabled)
- Type (primary, secondary, ghost)
Split complex options into separate components if needed.
❌ Detached or Local Styles
Templates often have styles applied directly (no tokens or variables), which break as soon as someone makes a change. Always bind to global styles or variables.
❌ Unused Components or Legacy Frames
Don’t include:
- Components no longer in use
- Exploration drafts
- Legacy visual styles
Every component in your system should be production-ready or clearly marked otherwise.
❌ Unclear Ownership
If your template will be used by others, it needs a system for:
- Contribution
- Review
- Updates
Bonus tip: include a “Changelog” page to track updates.
🧠 Final Tips for Template Success
- 🔁 Test the template with a real project before rolling it out
- 🧪 Review it regularly and remove what’s unused
- 📤 Publish it as a library and document how to use it
- 🤝 Involve devs early to align on tokens and naming
✅ TL;DR: Template Essentials Checklist
| Must-Have | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Color & Typography Tokens | Theming, consistency, accessibility |
| Core UI Components | Fast prototyping, reuse |
| Layout & Spacing System | Responsive design, scalability |
| Documentation Page | Onboarding, usage clarity |
| Clean Naming & Layering | Developer handoff, searchability |
| Figma Styles & Auto Layout | Efficiency, responsive behavior |
➡️ Next up: “Naming Things in Figma: Best Practices for Layers, Components, and Tokens“
Designilo 