design-tokens

---
name: design-tokens
description: Generate a design tokens file (CSS variables or Tailwind config) based on a chosen aesthetic philosophy, with light and dark mode palettes, spacing scale, type ramp, and component-level tokens. Use when starting a new project, establishing a visual system, setting up tokens, or mentions "tokens" or "design system".
---

This skill generates the foundational design tokens for a project. Run this after the design brief and before building any components. Every component built after this references these tokens instead of hardcoding values.

## Example prompts

- "Set up design tokens for this project"
- "Generate a token system based on Dieter Rams"
- "I need a spacing scale and color palette before I start building"
- "Create tokens that match our brief"

## Process

1. **Check what already exists.** Before generating anything, scan the codebase for:
   - CSS variable definitions (`:root`, `[data-theme]`, custom property files)
   - Tailwind config (`tailwind.config.js`, `tailwind.config.ts`) and any theme extensions
   - Theme provider files (Material UI `createTheme`, Chakra `extendTheme`, shadcn `globals.css`)
   - Design token JSON files (Style Dictionary format, Figma token exports)
   - Any `tokens.css`, `variables.css`, `theme.css`, or similarly named files
   - `package.json` for UI framework dependencies (tailwindcss, @mui/material, @chakra-ui/react, etc.)

   If tokens already exist, **extend them** rather than replacing. Identify gaps (missing dark mode, incomplete spacing scale, no motion tokens) and fill those.

2. **Read the brief.** Look for a design brief at `.design/*/DESIGN_BRIEF.md`. If multiple subfolders exist, use the most recently modified one, or ask the user which feature they are working on. If a philosophy is named, use the parameters from `/frontend-design` to derive token values. If no brief exists, ask the user what direction they want.

3. **Generate tokens** in the format that matches the project's tech stack:
   - Tailwind project → extend `tailwind.config.js` and write to `globals.css`
   - CSS/HTML project → write to a `tokens.css` file
   - CSS-in-JS project → write to a `theme.ts` or `theme.js` file
   - If unclear, default to CSS custom properties (most portable)

4. **Always generate both light and dark mode palettes.** Use `[data-theme="dark"]` or `prefers-color-scheme` media query. Both palettes should feel intentional for the chosen philosophy, not just inverted values.

## Token Categories

### Color

```css
/* Semantic color tokens, not raw values */
--color-bg-primary:          /* Main background */
--color-bg-secondary:        /* Secondary/card background */
--color-bg-tertiary:         /* Subtle background (inputs, wells) */
--color-bg-inverse:          /* Inverted background */

--color-text-primary:        /* Main text */
--color-text-secondary:      /* Subdued text */
--color-text-tertiary:       /* Placeholder, disabled text */
--color-text-inverse:        /* Text on inverse backgrounds */
--color-text-link:           /* Link color */

--color-border-primary:      /* Default borders */
--color-border-secondary:    /* Subtle borders */
--color-border-focus:        /* Focus ring color */

--color-accent-primary:      /* Primary action color */
--color-accent-primary-hover:
--color-accent-primary-active:
--color-accent-secondary:    /* Secondary action color */

--color-status-success:
--color-status-warning:
--color-status-error:
--color-status-info:

--color-surface-overlay:     /* Modal/dropdown backdrop */
```

### Spacing

Generate a consistent scale. The base unit should match the philosophy:
- Tight philosophies (Brutalist, Swiss): 4px base
- Balanced philosophies (Rams, Scandinavian): 4px or 8px base
- Spacious philosophies (Japanese Minimalism, Editorial): 8px base with larger multipliers

```css
--space-0:   0;
--space-1:   /* base * 0.25 */
--space-2:   /* base * 0.5 */
--space-3:   /* base * 0.75 */
--space-4:   /* base * 1 */
--space-5:   /* base * 1.5 */
--space-6:   /* base * 2 */
--space-7:   /* base * 3 */
--space-8:   /* base * 4 */
--space-9:   /* base * 6 */
--space-10:  /* base * 8 */
--space-11:  /* base * 12 */
--space-12:  /* base * 16 */
```

### Typography

```css
--font-family-display:       /* Headline/display font */
--font-family-body:          /* Body text font */
--font-family-mono:          /* Code/monospace font */

--font-size-xs:
--font-size-sm:
--font-size-base:
--font-size-md:
--font-size-lg:
--font-size-xl:
--font-size-2xl:
--font-size-3xl:
--font-size-4xl:             /* Hero/display size */

--font-weight-normal:
--font-weight-medium:
--font-weight-semibold:
--font-weight-bold:

--line-height-tight:         /* Headings: 1.1-1.3 */
--line-height-normal:        /* Body: 1.4-1.6 */
--line-height-relaxed:       /* Spacious body: 1.6-1.8 */

--letter-spacing-tight:      /* Display type */
--letter-spacing-normal:
--letter-spacing-wide:       /* All-caps, labels */
```

### Layout

```css
--max-width-content:         /* Max reading width (65-75ch equivalent) */
--max-width-wide:            /* Wide content area */
--max-width-page:            /* Full page max width */

--border-radius-sm:
--border-radius-md:
--border-radius-lg:
--border-radius-full:        /* Pill/circle */

--shadow-sm:
--shadow-md:
--shadow-lg:
--shadow-focus:              /* Focus ring shadow */
```

### Motion

```css
--duration-instant:   50ms;
--duration-fast:      150ms;
--duration-normal:    250ms;
--duration-slow:      400ms;
--duration-slower:    600ms;

--easing-default:     cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1);
--easing-in:          cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 1, 1);
--easing-out:         cubic-bezier(0, 0, 0.2, 1);
--easing-bounce:      cubic-bezier(0.34, 1.56, 0.64, 1);
```

### Responsive Breakpoints

```css
--breakpoint-sm:   375px;    /* Mobile */
--breakpoint-md:   768px;    /* Tablet */
--breakpoint-lg:   1024px;   /* Small desktop */
--breakpoint-xl:   1280px;   /* Desktop */
--breakpoint-2xl:  1536px;   /* Wide desktop */
```

## Dark Mode

Always generate dark mode tokens alongside light mode. Rules:

- Do not simply invert colors. Dark backgrounds should be warm or cool depending on the philosophy.
- Reduce contrast slightly in dark mode (pure white text on pure black is harsh).
- Shadows should use darker, more transparent values in dark mode, not the same shadows as light.
- Accent colors may need lightness adjustments to maintain contrast ratios.
- Include a `prefers-color-scheme` media query AND a `[data-theme="dark"]` attribute selector so the user can support both system preference and manual toggle.

```css
:root {
  /* Light mode tokens */
}

[data-theme="dark"] {
  /* Dark mode overrides */
}

@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) {
  :root:not([data-theme="light"]) {
    /* System-preference dark mode, unless user explicitly chose light */
  }
}
```

## Output

Save the tokens file in the appropriate location for the project's tech stack. State which philosophy the tokens are derived from and note any deviations or choices made.

From julianoczkowski/designer-skills at c259656, shown as plain text under its license: Apache-2.0 (permissive). The license text is in LICENSE.

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