Design teams juggling multiple brands need clear systems to keep UI consistent while allowing brand expression. Figma variables and design tokens offer a single source of truth for colors, type, spacing, and component theming. This guide explains practical setup, naming, and export workflows so designers and engineers can scale multi-brand systems with predictable, repeatable results. Follow step-by-step examples to apply tokens across real projects.

Core Concepts and Why They Matter

diseño gráfico teams build with repeatable parts. Systems reduce guesswork. This chapter explains the core concepts. You will learn the practical difference between Figma variables and design tokens. Figma variables are the living values inside Figma files. Design tokens are the portable values shared with code. Multi-brand systems use both to scale many brands.

How Figma variables and design tokens power multi-brand systems

Think of Figma variables as the active styles you edit while designing. They update components in a file. Think of design tokens as the JSON or YAML packages engineers consume. Tokens keep values consistent across platforms. When you change a token, multiple products update. This is the core reason teams adopt Figma variables and design tokens for multi-brand systems.

Why both matter

• Consistency — reuse the same source values across touchpoints.
• Efficiency — update one token to change many instances.
• Scalability — add new brands or themes quickly.

The practical flow is simple. Designers set Figma variables inside files. They export or map those values to design tokens. Engineers import tokens into code. This loop keeps UI and code aligned. It also helps with handoff and automation.

Token categories to track

• Color — primary, accents, semantic roles.
• Typography — families, tallas, pesas, line-height.
• Spacing — gutter and padding scales.
• Elevation — shadows and z-level tokens.
• UI details — icon sizes and corner radius.

Good naming matters. Use semantic, platform-agnostic names. Prefer color.primary.brand over raw hex values. Keep delimiters consistent. Version token sets per brand. These choices stop confusion as the system grows.

Agentes de IA and automation often read tokens directly. They can generate theme variants fast. That speeds testing of visual systems.

identidad visual relies on clear primitives. Tokens capture the core of that identity. Figma variables hold the designer-facing side. Design tokens carry the implementation side.

proceso creativo benefits from predictable changes. Swap a token. See the result everywhere. This saves reviews and reduces rework.

logotipos and brand marks still need bespoke treatment. But color and spacing tokens make surrounding layouts consistent. Use tokens to protect mark integrity across apps.

estrategia de marca gains structure from tokens. Multiple brand themes share a base token set. Then each brand layers its own overrides. This pattern is ideal for multi-brand systems.

obra de arte digital and UI assets can reference the same token values. This avoids mismatched palettes in production. It keeps everything coherent.

herramientas de diseño integrations make this workflow repeatable. Plugins can sync Figma variables with token stores. That connection reduces manual export tasks.

Plantillas de fotomatón or event assets also benefit. Tokens ensure colors and spacing match other brand materials.

Short tip: when you prototype, toggle themes using Figma variables. Then export the final token set for engineering. If you need guidance on building a compact brand kit, see building a brand kit for small businesses. Keep names semantic. Version often. That makes your multi-brand systems future-proof.

Practical Setup Inside Figma

Start with a clear file structure

Keep three core files. One for your Design Tokens, one for Components, and one per brand theme. Store global values in the Design Tokens file. Reference them from the Components file. Put each brand’s overrides in its own Brand Theme file. This layout makes swapping themes fast. It also keeps Figma variables and design tokens tidy for multi-brand systems.

Step by step

• Create color variables per semantic role. Use names like background, surface, texto, y accent. Store them in a dedicated color group so teams can scan tokens quickly. Figma variables will hold each semantic color.

• Define typography styles mapped to token names. Use token-friendly names like display, heading, y cuerpo. Link each style to a variable so font-size, weight, and line-height can change by brand. That keeps design tokens and Figma variables synchronized.

• Build a spacing scale and store values as numeric variables. Name them clearly, Por ejemplo core.spacing.4 o core.spacing.8. Numeric variables are easier to export for engineering.

• Link component properties to variables. Set fills, strokes, radius, relleno, and font tokens to reference variables. Components will then inherit theme changes when you swap brand files. This is the power of Figma variables for multi-brand systems.

Naming and organization

Use a flat, searchable namespace. Examples work well: brand-name.color.primary o core.spacing.8. Avoid deeply nested names. Keep token names single-purpose and descriptive. A single token should map to one semantic role. This prevents accidental coupling between tokens in multi-brand systems. When teams search, they should find tokens fast.

Integration tips

• Use token plugins to export JSON for engineers. Plugins sync Figma variables and design tokens into code-friendly formats. Exports reduce handoff errors.

• Keep tokens single-purpose to avoid coupling. One token, one role. Avoid mixing color intents in a single token.

• Create a manifest file that lists which tokens vary per brand. This manifest guides engineers and designers during handoff. It makes multi-brand systems predictable.

Practical example

Build a Button component in the Components file. Reference a background token for fill. Use a text token for the label color. Pull padding from your spacing variables. Use a radius token for corner rounding. Now open a Brand Theme file and swap values. The Button updates automatically. This connects Figma variables directly to visible UI outcomes. It proves design tokens work in practice.

Keep a short manifest that notes which tokens change for each brand. That file simplifies governance and aligns with the next chapter on Scale Governance and Handoff to Engineering.

If you need help assembling brand assets, our guide on how to create a cohesive brand kit pairs well with token work.

diseño gráfico teams will like the speed this setup creates. También ayuda Agentes de IA when automating token exports. A clear token structure protects your identidad visual. It keeps your proceso creativo efficient. Your logotipos and color systems stay consistent. The approach complements your wider estrategia de marca. It supports obra de arte digital reuse. Use modern herramientas de diseño and workflows. You can even adapt tokens for Plantillas de fotomatón and other creative assets.

Scale Governance and Handoff to Engineering — Figma variables

Scale Governance and Handoff to Engineering

diseño gráfico teams move fast. Systems must remain stable. This chapter picks up from Practical Setup Inside Figma. It explains versioning, governance, and the handoff to engineering.

Why governance matters for design tokens

Governance keeps Agentes de IA and humans aligned. It prevents accidental brand drift. It protects accessibility and layout rules. It makes multi-brand work predictable.

Versioning and release cadence

Set a clear versioning scheme for tokens. Use semantic versions like v1.2.0. Publish a changelog for every release. Keep notes short and actionable. Share migration steps for breaking changes.

Handoff workflow for engineering

Export tokens as structured JSON with clear naming. Include token groups and types. Provide example theme files. Give mapping docs that show how tokens map to code.

• Export tokens as structured JSON with clear naming.
• Provide mapping docs showing how design tokens map to CSS variables, theme objects, or mobile token formats.
• Automate exports via CI or token plugins for synced deployments.

Make mapping docs simple. Show JSON paths and final CSS names. Include mobile formats like Android XML and iOS plists. Show a live example for the engineering team.

Automate token export in your pipeline. Tie token builds to your release branches. Use a script or plugin that pushes JSON artifacts. For automation patterns, see automation workflows that save designers time.

Practical theming strategies

Keep a central core set of tokens. Those never change across brands. They cover accessibility sizes and base grid. Build brand overlays that override core tokens. Overlays hold color, imagery cues, and micro-adjustments. Usar runtime theming to swap variables at build or load time.

• identidad visual core tokens that are stable.
• proceso creativo friendly brand overlays.
• logotipos and color overrides handled as overlays.

Quality, testing, and onboarding

Add token linting to CI. Run token-based unit tests for themes. Use visual regression checks across brand pages. Catch parity issues before release.

Provide onboarding guides. Include token usage examples for designers and devs. Share common troubleshooting steps. Keep docs short and searchable.

Use token exports to create consistent components. Teach engineers how tokens map to runtime values. That reduces back-and-forth and speeds delivery.

estrategia de marca teams will love the predictability. obra de arte digital assets stay consistent across products. herramientas de diseño tie directly into the delivery pipeline. Plantillas de fotomatón and other creative assets inherit tokens automatically.

Governance ensures multi-brand systems stay predictable. Use version control, changelogs, and automation. This keeps Figma variables, design tokens, and multi-brand systems aligned.

Palabras finales

Figma variables and design tokens let teams enforce brand coherence while enabling flexible expression. By standardizing naming, organizing token files, and automating exports, design and engineering stay aligned as brands scale. Keep governance light but firm, document mapping to code, and iterate with real project feedback. A well-made token system reduces friction and helps teams ship consistent, polished products.