Typography variables. Gradients. Code Connect.
Figma Updates
Code Connect
“Code Connect is a tool for design systems and engineering teams to bring component code into Dev Mode. When inspecting a component with connected code snippets, developers will see design system code from their libraries instead of auto-generated code.” Currently in beta. Available on Enterprise or Organization plans only.
Jake Albaugh shows Figma Code Connect
Developer Advocate Jake shows Jason Lengstorf how to bring your code into Figma with Code Connect.
Figma tutorial: Variables for typography
The String and Number type variables can now be bound to typography fields and saved as a style. Included fields are font family, font weight (numeric or named alias) and style, font size, line height (no percentages support yet), letter spacing, paragraph spacing and indent. Use Modes to create responsive typography scales for different screen sizes.
Typography variables starter kit
A starter kit from Luis Ouriach shows how to set things up with typographic variables.
Gradients
Color variables can now be bound to gradient stops and saved as a style.
Library Analytics API
“Now, your team can access Figma library data outside of the app, so you can organize the data based on your organization’s needs. This will include component insertion, detachment, and instance data, as well as team and file-level breakdowns. Enterprise plans only.”
FigJam for Google Meet Hardware
“Create a FigJam board during or outside of a Google Meet call to jam remotely or in person.”
The no-code way to connect your design components to code: Try Zeplin.
Wouldn’t it be slick if you could connect your design system components to code so they’re accessible during handoff? Zeplin’s Storybook integration gives you the power to do just that — no coding needed!
Just paste your Storybook URL into Zeplin and start linking. View component code from Storybook in Zeplin and run side-by-side comparisons with the addon to ensure perfect alignment between design and live code.
Available on Zeplin’s Free Plan, and supports all 15 frameworks from Storybook including React, Vue, and Angular.
Framework
What we launched at Framework
Jacob Miller, a Product Manager for Design Systems at Figma, gives an overview of everything launched at Framework — Code Connect for developers, typography and gradient variables, and the new Library Analytics API. All of the above is designed to drive design system adoption across the teams because “building a design system is only half the battle — the real challenge is getting it adopted by both designers and developers.” If you missed the event, that’s one summary you need.
Framework Opening & Welcome
The Figma team kicks off the Framework event with a rundown of everything they’re launching and what’s to come.
Typography and gradients deep dive and demos
Designer Advocate Ana Boyer takes us on a deep dive into typography and gradient variables, sharing best practices for leveraging these new features in your design system.
Creating a more connected design system with Code Connect
Code Connect delivers code from your design system to Dev Mode, helping developers build with consistency and speed. In this session, Jake Albaugh, Figma Developer Advocate, shares an overview of Code Connect and some tips on how to get started.
Design to Code: Roundtable discussion with Code Connect users
Bumble, GitHub, and HP discuss the challenges their design systems teams face in connecting design to code and share first impressions of Code Connect.
Beneath the surface of Verizon’s approach to variables
In this session, Verizon Design Systems Leads Talia Fisher and Kshitij Tambe explain how their team implemented variables and how it’s helping them take their design system to the next level.
FAQs & Closing
The Figma team answers FAQs on design systems and everything launched at Framework, ranging from introductory questions to more complex ones.
What’s New
Vision, conviction, and hype: How to build 0 to 1 inside a company
A new episode of Lenny’s Podcast with Mihika Kapoor, a design-engineer-PM hybrid at Figma, where she was an early PM on FigJam and is now spearheading development on a new product at the company that’s coming out this June (!!!) “She’s known as the go-to person at Figma for leading new 0‑to‑1 products, and, as you’ll hear in our conversation, beloved by everyone she works with. Her background includes founding Design Nation, a national nonprofit focused on democratizing design education for undergraduates; spearheading product launches at Meta; and community building within the NYC AI startup scene.” See also a few key takeaways from this conversation on Twitter.
Design systems 102: How to build your design system
Chad Bergman continues the series on getting started with design systems with a walkthrough of the basics of creating a system tailored to your unique goals and challenges, whether building from scratch or starting with existing pieces.
Using Figma
Typography Variables in Figma Are Here
Joey Banks recaps the Framework announcements. On choosing between styles and variables: “Wait, but styles don’t allow for modes, right? Wouldn’t the use of styles prevent us from switching themes or brands? Actually, this is what I’m most excited about with this update, and it’s the further positioning of how styles can be useful in combination with variables. Because all styles (yes, typography now, too!) can use variables, adjusting one variable mode within a style will adjust all variables to reflect that new mode change.”
Accessibility Scaling
“Did you know that 1⁄4 of mobile users tweak text sizes on their phones?” I didn’t know that! In this thread, Branimir shows how to set up accessible interface scaling with the latest typography variables.
All the places to apply variables in Figma
Designer Advocate Hugo Raymond shows all the places where you can bind variables inside the Figma UI, including the newly released typographic variables and gradient stops.
Not seeing the variables icon?
Chad with a timely reminder that the variables icon appears only if there are variables with the right type in your file.
What’s the recipe for a successful handoff?
“After finalizing and polishing their work in Figma, designers often expect developers to magically make sense of it. However, as that’s not usually the case, things can end up looking pretty grim. What’s going wrong?” The authors blame the outdated handoff mindset and suggest the four steps that can turn the handoff process from a potential headache into a smooth collaboration.
Making landscapes in Figma
That’s a pretty cool demo of how powerful the Generator plugin is. Impressive!
Can you bring Figma or Illustrator files into Rive?
A short explainer on bringing SVGs from Figma to Rive, where you can build functional graphics with rich interactivity and animation.
Resources
Atomize
I shared this design system back in October of last year, but it just shipped a new version and won #1 Product of the Day at Product Hunt. “Included in this package are more than 200 styles (Typography, Effects, and Color), over 200 variables (Surface, Text, Outlines, and Radius), and 700+ components (Buttons, Form Elements, Navigation, Web3, and more). It also offers pre-made layout samples, a one-click dark mode option, and a fully tokenized design using Figma variables.”
Chrome Frame Mockup
“The latest version of the Chrome browser frame mockup offers a sleek and modern design, complete with customizable features such as tabs, address bar, and navigation buttons.”
Plugins
Hues & Gradients
A new plugin by Vijay Verma for generating pleasant color palettes and gradients in one click.
Glazed
“The first visual tracking documentation tool that enables everyone in your team to create, access and understand analytics events in seconds. No technical skills or endless spreadsheets required.” See the demo video.
Cool Thing
OKLCH Color Generator
Cool little app for generating a consistent color palette from Lightness, Chroma, and a given number of Hue steps using OKLCH.