Figma Variables - The Ultimate Guide

Introduction

Figma variables are a powerful feature that allows designers to save reusable values and apply them to different design properties. In this article, we will explore how to use variables in Figma and leverage their benefits.

Understanding Variables vs. Styles

While both variables and styles allow you to store reusable values, they have some fundamental differences. Styles are used for properties with multiple values, such as gradients or shadows. On the other hand, variables store individual raw values like hex color codes or text strings.

Another difference is that styles cannot reference other styles, but variables can reference other variables or even styles. This makes variables especially powerful for creating design tokens.

Creating Variables in Figma

To create variables in Figma, follow these steps:

1. Click on an empty area of your design canvas.
2. In the right sidebar, find the "Local Variables" section and click on the icon.
3. In the popup window, you can create different collections of variables. Rename the default collection or create a new one.
4. Within the collection, click on the "Create Variable" button.
5. You can choose from four types of variables: color, number, string, and boolean.
6. Name your variable and assign a value. For color variables, use hex color codes.
7. Repeat the process to create variables for different shades or tints.
8. Group related variables together for better organization.

Creating Design Tokens

Design tokens are simple, reusable design decisions that represent design attributes or styles. By linking variables together, you can create powerful design tokens in Figma.

To create design tokens, follow these steps:

1. Create a new collection for your design tokens.
2. Create variables for different design attributes, such as color, spacing, or typography.
3. Link the variables to the corresponding values in your variable collections.
4. Group the variables within the design token collection for better organization.

Applying Design Tokens to Your Design

Once you have created your design tokens, you can apply them to your design elements in Figma. Here's how:

1. Select the design element you want to apply the design token to.
2. In the right sidebar, find the properties you want to link to a design token.
3. Click on the icon next to the property and choose the desired design token from the list.
4. The design element will now be linked to the design token, allowing for easy changes and updates.

Creating Different Modes and Localizing Elements

Figma also offers the ability to create different modes for your variable collections and localize your design elements. This feature is available to paid users.

To create different modes:

1. In your variable collection, click on the plus icon to add a new mode.
2. Rename the modes to represent different themes or variations.
3. Change the values of the variables in each mode to reflect the desired changes.
4. You can toggle between modes to see how your design adapts to different themes or variations.

To localize your elements:

1. Create a separate collection for your text variables.
2. Create string variables for each text element that needs localization.
3. In each mode, translate the string variables to the desired language.
4. Link the text elements to the corresponding string variables.
5. You can easily switch between modes to see how your design elements adapt to different languages.

Conclusion

Figma variables and design tokens are powerful tools for creating scalable and consistent designs. By leveraging variables, designers can save time, maintain consistency, and easily make design changes. With the ability to create different modes and localize elements, Figma provides a robust platform for designing across different themes and languages.