Design Tokens for Layout

1. Introduction

Design tokens are a way to store design decisions in a structured format, allowing for consistency and scalability across different platforms and devices. This lesson focuses on layout design tokens and their implementation in theming systems.

2. What are Design Tokens?

Design tokens are named entities that store design-related values. They can include colors, typography, spacing, and layout properties, providing a central source of truth for design systems.

3. Importance of Design Tokens

• Consistency: Ensure uniformity across different platforms.
• Scalability: Simplify updates and changes across multiple components.
• Collaboration: Enhance communication between designers and developers.

4. Layout Design Tokens

Layout design tokens specifically refer to values governing the spatial arrangement of components, such as:

• Spacing (margin, padding)
• Grid layouts
• Breakpoints for responsive design

Example: Defining Layout Tokens

{
  "spacing": {
    "small": "8px",
    "medium": "16px",
    "large": "32px"
  },
  "grid": {
    "columns": 12,
    "gutter": "16px"
  },
  "breakpoints": {
    "mobile": "480px",
    "tablet": "768px",
    "desktop": "1024px"
  }
}
            

5. Implementation

To implement design tokens in your layout, follow these steps:

1. Define your layout tokens in a JSON or YAML file.
2. Integrate these tokens into your CSS or styling framework.
3. Use a preprocessor or build tool to convert tokens into usable CSS variables.

Sample CSS Implementation

:root {
  --spacing-small: 8px;
  --spacing-medium: 16px;
  --spacing-large: 32px;
  --grid-columns: 12;
  --grid-gutter: 16px;
}

.container {
  padding: var(--spacing-medium);
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(var(--grid-columns), 1fr);
  gap: var(--grid-gutter);
}
            

6. Best Practices

• Group related tokens together.
• Keep token names descriptive and intuitive.
• Document your tokens clearly for future reference.

7. FAQ