21.1 Primitive Tokens
Primitive Tokens is a practical Figma skill used to move from rough structure toward a consistent, testable, developer-ready interface. The goal is to understand both the tool action and the design decision behind it.
Step by step
- Define the design purpose of Primitive Tokens.
- Create the smallest useful frame, component, token, prototype, or document needed for the task.
- Apply consistent naming and structure so another designer can understand the file.
- Test the result in the relevant frame size, interaction state, mode, or prototype.
- Document the important decision so developers or teammates know how it should behave.
10 practical examples
- Apply Primitive Tokens to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Primitive Tokens to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Primitive Tokens to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Primitive Tokens to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Primitive Tokens to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Primitive Tokens to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Primitive Tokens to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Primitive Tokens to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Primitive Tokens to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Primitive Tokens to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Primitive Tokens
2. Apply a clear layer/component naming system.
3. Build one default state and one alternate state.
4. Test at mobile and desktop sizes when relevant.
5. Add an annotation explaining the design decision.Expected output
A clean Figma artifact demonstrating Primitive Tokens, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Primitive Tokens using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
21.2 Semantic Tokens
Semantic Tokens is a practical Figma skill used to move from rough structure toward a consistent, testable, developer-ready interface. The goal is to understand both the tool action and the design decision behind it.
Step by step
- Define the design purpose of Semantic Tokens.
- Create the smallest useful frame, component, token, prototype, or document needed for the task.
- Apply consistent naming and structure so another designer can understand the file.
- Test the result in the relevant frame size, interaction state, mode, or prototype.
- Document the important decision so developers or teammates know how it should behave.
10 practical examples
- Apply Semantic Tokens to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Semantic Tokens to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Semantic Tokens to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Semantic Tokens to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Semantic Tokens to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Semantic Tokens to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Semantic Tokens to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Semantic Tokens to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Semantic Tokens to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Semantic Tokens to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Semantic Tokens
2. Apply a clear layer/component naming system.
3. Build one default state and one alternate state.
4. Test at mobile and desktop sizes when relevant.
5. Add an annotation explaining the design decision.Expected output
A clean Figma artifact demonstrating Semantic Tokens, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Semantic Tokens using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
21.3 Alias Chains
Alias Chains is a practical Figma skill used to move from rough structure toward a consistent, testable, developer-ready interface. The goal is to understand both the tool action and the design decision behind it.
Step by step
- Define the design purpose of Alias Chains.
- Create the smallest useful frame, component, token, prototype, or document needed for the task.
- Apply consistent naming and structure so another designer can understand the file.
- Test the result in the relevant frame size, interaction state, mode, or prototype.
- Document the important decision so developers or teammates know how it should behave.
10 practical examples
- Apply Alias Chains to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Alias Chains to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Alias Chains to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Alias Chains to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Alias Chains to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Alias Chains to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Alias Chains to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Alias Chains to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Alias Chains to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Alias Chains to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Alias Chains
2. Apply a clear layer/component naming system.
3. Build one default state and one alternate state.
4. Test at mobile and desktop sizes when relevant.
5. Add an annotation explaining the design decision.Expected output
A clean Figma artifact demonstrating Alias Chains, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Alias Chains using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
21.4 Naming Strategy
Naming Strategy is a practical Figma skill used to move from rough structure toward a consistent, testable, developer-ready interface. The goal is to understand both the tool action and the design decision behind it.
Step by step
- Define the design purpose of Naming Strategy.
- Create the smallest useful frame, component, token, prototype, or document needed for the task.
- Apply consistent naming and structure so another designer can understand the file.
- Test the result in the relevant frame size, interaction state, mode, or prototype.
- Document the important decision so developers or teammates know how it should behave.
10 practical examples
- Apply Naming Strategy to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Naming Strategy to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Naming Strategy to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Naming Strategy to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Naming Strategy to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Naming Strategy to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Naming Strategy to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Naming Strategy to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Naming Strategy to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Naming Strategy to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Naming Strategy
2. Apply a clear layer/component naming system.
3. Build one default state and one alternate state.
4. Test at mobile and desktop sizes when relevant.
5. Add an annotation explaining the design decision.Expected output
A clean Figma artifact demonstrating Naming Strategy, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Naming Strategy using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
21.5 Token Documentation
Token Documentation is a practical Figma skill used to move from rough structure toward a consistent, testable, developer-ready interface. The goal is to understand both the tool action and the design decision behind it.
Step by step
- Define the design purpose of Token Documentation.
- Create the smallest useful frame, component, token, prototype, or document needed for the task.
- Apply consistent naming and structure so another designer can understand the file.
- Test the result in the relevant frame size, interaction state, mode, or prototype.
- Document the important decision so developers or teammates know how it should behave.
10 practical examples
- Apply Token Documentation to a course website and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Token Documentation to a online store and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Token Documentation to a banking app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Token Documentation to a school portal and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Token Documentation to a clinic booking system and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Token Documentation to a dashboard and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Token Documentation to a restaurant site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Token Documentation to a mobile app and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Token Documentation to a creator site and explain the decision you made.
- Apply Token Documentation to a business landing page and explain the decision you made.
Hands-on example
FIGMA PRACTICE
1. Create a frame named: Token Documentation
2. Apply a clear layer/component naming system.
3. Build one default state and one alternate state.
4. Test at mobile and desktop sizes when relevant.
5. Add an annotation explaining the design decision.Expected output
A clean Figma artifact demonstrating Token Documentation, organized well enough for another designer or developer to inspect and understand.
Practice exercise
Create a fresh example for Token Documentation using a different product, screen, component, or content set. Explain what changed and why.
Chapter 21 review — 10 questions and answers
1. What is the main purpose of Primitive Tokens?
Answer: Primitive Tokens is a practical Figma skill used to move from rough structure toward a consistent, testable, developer-ready interface. The goal is to understand both the tool action and the design decision behind it.
2. What is a common mistake with Primitive Tokens?
Answer: Using Primitive Tokens visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
3. What is the main purpose of Semantic Tokens?
Answer: Semantic Tokens is a practical Figma skill used to move from rough structure toward a consistent, testable, developer-ready interface. The goal is to understand both the tool action and the design decision behind it.
4. What is a common mistake with Semantic Tokens?
Answer: Using Semantic Tokens visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
5. What is the main purpose of Alias Chains?
Answer: Alias Chains is a practical Figma skill used to move from rough structure toward a consistent, testable, developer-ready interface. The goal is to understand both the tool action and the design decision behind it.
6. What is a common mistake with Alias Chains?
Answer: Using Alias Chains visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
7. What is the main purpose of Naming Strategy?
Answer: Naming Strategy is a practical Figma skill used to move from rough structure toward a consistent, testable, developer-ready interface. The goal is to understand both the tool action and the design decision behind it.
8. What is a common mistake with Naming Strategy?
Answer: Using Naming Strategy visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.
9. What is the main purpose of Token Documentation?
Answer: Token Documentation is a practical Figma skill used to move from rough structure toward a consistent, testable, developer-ready interface. The goal is to understand both the tool action and the design decision behind it.
10. What is a common mistake with Token Documentation?
Answer: Using Token Documentation visually without consistent naming, reusable structure, realistic content, states, or developer handoff information.