Agent skill

design-tokens-structure

Architects token systems with primitive, semantic, and component layers. Use when structuring tokens from scratch, adding multi-theme support, setting up token aliasing, or organizing token hierarchies.

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npx add-skill https://github.com/dylantarre/design-system-skills/tree/main/skills/tokens/design-tokens-structure

SKILL.md

Design Tokens Structure

Overview

Establish the architectural foundation for a scalable design token system. Defines the three-layer token hierarchy (primitive → semantic → component) that enables theming, multi-brand support, and maintainable design systems.

When to Use

  • Starting a new design system from scratch
  • Restructuring an existing token system
  • Adding multi-theme or multi-brand support
  • Converting hardcoded values to tokens
  • Creating a token governance strategy

Implementation Checklist

Copy this checklist when architecting a token system:

Token Architecture Setup:
- [ ] Audit existing values and establish naming conventions
- [ ] Define primitive tokens (raw values, context-free)
- [ ] Define semantic tokens (purpose-based, reference primitives)
- [ ] Create theme overrides (dark.json, brand variants)
- [ ] Add component tokens for complex stateful components
- [ ] Configure build output (CSS variables, Tailwind, JSON)

Quick Reference: Token Layers

Layer Also Called Purpose Example
Primitive Core, Base, Global Raw values, context-free blue-500: #3b82f6
Semantic Alias, Purpose, Role Meaning-based references color-primary: {blue-500}
Component Specific, Local Component-scoped tokens button-bg: {color-primary}

The Three-Layer Architecture

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                    COMPONENT TOKENS                      │
│        button-bg, card-border, input-focus-ring          │
│                         ↓ references                     │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                    SEMANTIC TOKENS                       │
│       color-primary, color-bg-surface, spacing-page      │
│                         ↓ references                     │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                    PRIMITIVE TOKENS                      │
│         blue-500, gray-100, spacing-16, radius-8         │
│                    (raw values only)                     │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Layer 1: Primitive Tokens

Raw design values with no semantic meaning. These are the building blocks.

Characteristics

  • Context-free (no "primary", "background", etc.)
  • Named by their intrinsic property (color: hue, spacing: size)
  • Never change between themes
  • Comprehensive palette of options

Structure

json
{
  "primitive": {
    "color": {
      "gray": {
        "50": { "value": "#f9fafb" },
        "100": { "value": "#f3f4f6" },
        "200": { "value": "#e5e7eb" },
        "300": { "value": "#d1d5db" },
        "400": { "value": "#9ca3af" },
        "500": { "value": "#6b7280" },
        "600": { "value": "#4b5563" },
        "700": { "value": "#374151" },
        "800": { "value": "#1f2937" },
        "900": { "value": "#111827" },
        "950": { "value": "#030712" }
      },
      "blue": {
        "50": { "value": "#eff6ff" },
        "100": { "value": "#dbeafe" },
        "200": { "value": "#bfdbfe" },
        "300": { "value": "#93c5fd" },
        "400": { "value": "#60a5fa" },
        "500": { "value": "#3b82f6" },
        "600": { "value": "#2563eb" },
        "700": { "value": "#1d4ed8" },
        "800": { "value": "#1e40af" },
        "900": { "value": "#1e3a8a" }
      },
      "green": { /* success colors */ },
      "red": { /* error colors */ },
      "amber": { /* warning colors */ }
    },
    "spacing": {
      "0": { "value": "0" },
      "1": { "value": "0.25rem" },
      "2": { "value": "0.5rem" },
      "3": { "value": "0.75rem" },
      "4": { "value": "1rem" },
      "5": { "value": "1.25rem" },
      "6": { "value": "1.5rem" },
      "8": { "value": "2rem" },
      "10": { "value": "2.5rem" },
      "12": { "value": "3rem" },
      "16": { "value": "4rem" },
      "20": { "value": "5rem" },
      "24": { "value": "6rem" }
    },
    "radius": {
      "none": { "value": "0" },
      "sm": { "value": "0.125rem" },
      "md": { "value": "0.375rem" },
      "lg": { "value": "0.5rem" },
      "xl": { "value": "0.75rem" },
      "2xl": { "value": "1rem" },
      "full": { "value": "9999px" }
    },
    "font": {
      "family": {
        "sans": { "value": "Inter, system-ui, sans-serif" },
        "mono": { "value": "JetBrains Mono, monospace" }
      },
      "size": {
        "xs": { "value": "0.75rem" },
        "sm": { "value": "0.875rem" },
        "md": { "value": "1rem" },
        "lg": { "value": "1.125rem" },
        "xl": { "value": "1.25rem" },
        "2xl": { "value": "1.5rem" },
        "3xl": { "value": "1.875rem" },
        "4xl": { "value": "2.25rem" }
      },
      "weight": {
        "normal": { "value": "400" },
        "medium": { "value": "500" },
        "semibold": { "value": "600" },
        "bold": { "value": "700" }
      }
    }
  }
}

Layer 2: Semantic Tokens

Purpose-based tokens that reference primitives. These tokens change between themes.

Characteristics

  • Named by purpose/role, not appearance
  • Reference primitive tokens only
  • The only layer that changes per theme
  • Describe "what for", not "what it looks like"

Structure

json
{
  "semantic": {
    "color": {
      "bg": {
        "primary": { "value": "{primitive.color.gray.50}" },
        "secondary": { "value": "{primitive.color.gray.100}" },
        "tertiary": { "value": "{primitive.color.gray.200}" },
        "inverse": { "value": "{primitive.color.gray.900}" },
        "brand": { "value": "{primitive.color.blue.500}" }
      },
      "text": {
        "primary": { "value": "{primitive.color.gray.900}" },
        "secondary": { "value": "{primitive.color.gray.600}" },
        "tertiary": { "value": "{primitive.color.gray.500}" },
        "inverse": { "value": "{primitive.color.gray.50}" },
        "brand": { "value": "{primitive.color.blue.600}" },
        "link": { "value": "{primitive.color.blue.600}" }
      },
      "border": {
        "primary": { "value": "{primitive.color.gray.200}" },
        "secondary": { "value": "{primitive.color.gray.300}" },
        "focus": { "value": "{primitive.color.blue.500}" }
      },
      "status": {
        "success": { "value": "{primitive.color.green.500}" },
        "warning": { "value": "{primitive.color.amber.500}" },
        "error": { "value": "{primitive.color.red.500}" },
        "info": { "value": "{primitive.color.blue.500}" }
      },
      "interactive": {
        "primary": { "value": "{primitive.color.blue.500}" },
        "primary-hover": { "value": "{primitive.color.blue.600}" },
        "primary-active": { "value": "{primitive.color.blue.700}" },
        "secondary": { "value": "{primitive.color.gray.100}" },
        "secondary-hover": { "value": "{primitive.color.gray.200}" }
      }
    },
    "spacing": {
      "page": { "value": "{primitive.spacing.6}" },
      "section": { "value": "{primitive.spacing.12}" },
      "element": { "value": "{primitive.spacing.4}" },
      "inline": { "value": "{primitive.spacing.2}" }
    },
    "radius": {
      "interactive": { "value": "{primitive.radius.md}" },
      "container": { "value": "{primitive.radius.lg}" },
      "pill": { "value": "{primitive.radius.full}" }
    }
  }
}

Dark Theme Override

json
{
  "semantic": {
    "color": {
      "bg": {
        "primary": { "value": "{primitive.color.gray.950}" },
        "secondary": { "value": "{primitive.color.gray.900}" },
        "tertiary": { "value": "{primitive.color.gray.800}" },
        "inverse": { "value": "{primitive.color.gray.50}" }
      },
      "text": {
        "primary": { "value": "{primitive.color.gray.50}" },
        "secondary": { "value": "{primitive.color.gray.400}" },
        "tertiary": { "value": "{primitive.color.gray.500}" },
        "inverse": { "value": "{primitive.color.gray.900}" }
      },
      "border": {
        "primary": { "value": "{primitive.color.gray.800}" },
        "secondary": { "value": "{primitive.color.gray.700}" }
      }
    }
  }
}

Layer 3: Component Tokens

Component-specific tokens that reference semantic tokens. Optional but powerful for complex components.

Characteristics

  • Scoped to a specific component
  • Reference semantic tokens (rarely primitives)
  • Enable component-level customization
  • Used for complex, stateful components

Structure

json
{
  "component": {
    "button": {
      "primary": {
        "bg": { "value": "{semantic.color.interactive.primary}" },
        "bg-hover": { "value": "{semantic.color.interactive.primary-hover}" },
        "text": { "value": "{semantic.color.text.inverse}" },
        "border": { "value": "transparent" },
        "radius": { "value": "{semantic.radius.interactive}" },
        "padding-x": { "value": "{primitive.spacing.4}" },
        "padding-y": { "value": "{primitive.spacing.2}" }
      },
      "secondary": {
        "bg": { "value": "{semantic.color.interactive.secondary}" },
        "bg-hover": { "value": "{semantic.color.interactive.secondary-hover}" },
        "text": { "value": "{semantic.color.text.primary}" },
        "border": { "value": "{semantic.color.border.primary}" }
      },
      "disabled": {
        "bg": { "value": "{primitive.color.gray.100}" },
        "text": { "value": "{primitive.color.gray.400}" }
      }
    },
    "input": {
      "bg": { "value": "{semantic.color.bg.primary}" },
      "text": { "value": "{semantic.color.text.primary}" },
      "placeholder": { "value": "{semantic.color.text.tertiary}" },
      "border": { "value": "{semantic.color.border.primary}" },
      "border-focus": { "value": "{semantic.color.border.focus}" },
      "radius": { "value": "{semantic.radius.interactive}" },
      "padding-x": { "value": "{primitive.spacing.3}" },
      "padding-y": { "value": "{primitive.spacing.2}" }
    },
    "card": {
      "bg": { "value": "{semantic.color.bg.primary}" },
      "border": { "value": "{semantic.color.border.primary}" },
      "radius": { "value": "{semantic.radius.container}" },
      "padding": { "value": "{semantic.spacing.element}" },
      "shadow": { "value": "{primitive.shadow.md}" }
    }
  }
}

CSS Output

Generated Variables

css
/* Primitives - available but rarely used directly */
:root {
  --primitive-color-gray-50: #f9fafb;
  --primitive-color-gray-900: #111827;
  --primitive-color-blue-500: #3b82f6;
  --primitive-spacing-4: 1rem;
  /* ... */
}

/* Semantic - the main tokens you use */
:root {
  --color-bg-primary: var(--primitive-color-gray-50);
  --color-text-primary: var(--primitive-color-gray-900);
  --color-interactive-primary: var(--primitive-color-blue-500);
  --spacing-element: var(--primitive-spacing-4);
  /* ... */
}

/* Dark theme overrides semantic only */
[data-theme="dark"] {
  --color-bg-primary: var(--primitive-color-gray-950);
  --color-text-primary: var(--primitive-color-gray-50);
  /* primitives stay the same */
}

/* Component tokens (optional) */
:root {
  --button-primary-bg: var(--color-interactive-primary);
  --button-primary-text: var(--color-text-inverse);
  --card-bg: var(--color-bg-primary);
  --card-padding: var(--spacing-element);
}

Usage in Components

css
/* Use semantic tokens */
.card {
  background: var(--color-bg-primary);
  color: var(--color-text-primary);
  border: 1px solid var(--color-border-primary);
  padding: var(--spacing-element);
}

/* Or use component tokens if defined */
.card {
  background: var(--card-bg);
  padding: var(--card-padding);
}

/* Never use primitives directly in components */
/* ❌ Bad */
.card {
  background: var(--primitive-color-gray-50);
}

File Organization

Recommended Structure

tokens/
├── primitive/
│   ├── colors.json
│   ├── spacing.json
│   ├── typography.json
│   ├── radius.json
│   └── shadows.json
├── semantic/
│   ├── light.json       # Light theme semantic mappings
│   └── dark.json        # Dark theme overrides
├── component/
│   ├── button.json
│   ├── input.json
│   └── card.json
└── index.json           # Combines all for build

Flat vs Nested

Nested (Recommended for large systems):

json
{
  "color": {
    "bg": {
      "primary": { "value": "..." }
    }
  }
}

Output: --color-bg-primary

Flat (Simpler for small systems):

json
{
  "color-bg-primary": { "value": "..." }
}

Output: --color-bg-primary

Naming Conventions

Pattern: {category}-{property}-{variant}-{state}

Category Examples
color color-bg-primary, color-text-secondary
spacing spacing-page, spacing-inline
radius radius-interactive, radius-container
font font-size-lg, font-weight-bold
shadow shadow-md, shadow-lg

Semantic Naming Guidelines

Use Avoid
color-text-primary color-dark-gray
color-bg-surface color-white
color-interactive-primary color-blue
spacing-page spacing-24px
color-status-error color-red

When to Add Each Layer

Situation Layers Needed
Simple app, single theme Primitive + Semantic
Multi-theme (light/dark) Primitive + Semantic (per theme)
Complex components All three layers
Multi-brand (white-label) All three + brand-specific overrides
Design tool sync Primitive only to start

Anti-Patterns

Anti-Pattern Problem Solution
Semantic references semantic Circular/complex chains Semantic → Primitive only
Using primitives in components Breaks theming Use semantic tokens
Color names in semantic Leaks visual info Use purpose names
Too many component tokens Maintenance burden Only for complex states
Skipping semantic layer Can't theme Always have semantic layer

Migrating Existing Tokens

Step 1: Audit Current Usage

Find all hardcoded values and existing variables.

Step 2: Create Primitive Layer

Extract unique values into primitives.

Step 3: Create Semantic Layer

Map primitives to purposes.

Step 4: Update Components

Replace hardcoded values with semantic tokens.

Step 5: Add Themes

Create theme-specific semantic overrides.

css
/* Before */
.button {
  background: #3b82f6;
  color: white;
}

/* After */
.button {
  background: var(--color-interactive-primary);
  color: var(--color-text-inverse);
}

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