Design Systems: From Figma to Production Code

Design systems bridge the gap between designers and developers, creating a shared language that ensures consistency across products. But the real challenge isn't building a design system — it's maintaining the connection between Figma and code.

Start with design tokens: colors, spacing, typography, and shadows. These foundational values should be defined in Figma as variables and exported as JSON or CSS custom properties. Tools like Style Dictionary can transform tokens into platform-specific formats automatically.

Component architecture in code should mirror Figma's component structure. If designers use variants (size, state, color), your React components should accept the same props. This 1:1 mapping reduces friction and makes handoffs seamless.

Documentation is the glue that holds it together. Each component should have a Storybook page showing all variants, states, and usage guidelines. Automated visual regression testing with tools like Chromatic catches unintended changes before they reach production.

The best design systems evolve organically. Start small with the most-used components (Button, Input, Card), establish patterns, then expand. Regularly sync with designers to ensure the system stays aligned with the design vision.