Design System Variable Set Up — collections, modes, naming and tokens.

I’ve shared a small Figma file with three examples that flip cleanly between light and dark, plus a minimal color and type foundation. Here’s the playbook that guided it.

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Plan before you mint

  1. Strategic alignment — goals, problems, roadmap, costs.

  2. Governance — owners, workflows, contribution rules.

  3. Architecture — naming, tiers, theming, scale strategy.

  4. Infrastructure — single source of truth, design⇄dev pipelines, tests.

  5. Maintenance — docs, release notes, feedback loops.

Start small. Iterate fast.

  1. Scope the MVP — define the smallest useful slice and a clear north star.

  2. Decide what to build — translate brand values to a tiny set: colors, type, buttons; add simple interface patterns (cards, forms).

  3. Name things well — pick a convention (100/200 or sm/md/lg), validate with users, favor clarity.

Expect a few bumps

  • You’re adding a new layer—adjust processes.

  • Avoid bottlenecks—automate generation and handoff.

  • Share knowledge early and often.

Keep improving

  • Talk to users, spot opportunities, ship small changes, then scale.

Need a custom app brand — or have questions?

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Light & Dark Color System in Figma