design-tokens
Design tokens and CSS custom properties: theme systems, dark mode, component libraries. Use when implementing design systems or user mentions tokens, CSS variables, or theming.
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Install
Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.
npx skills add https://github.com/laurigates/claude-plugins --skill design-tokens- 01
Install
Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.
- 02
Describe the task
Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads design-tokens automatically when relevant.
- 03
Review the result
The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.
SKILL.md
The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.
Design Tokens
Design token architecture, CSS custom properties, and theme system implementation.
When to Use This Skill
| Use this skill when... | Use another skill instead when... |
|---|---|
| Setting up a design token system | Writing individual component styles |
| Implementing light/dark theme switching | Accessibility auditing (use accessibility skills) |
| Organizing CSS custom properties | CSS layout or responsive design |
| Integrating tokens with Tailwind/frameworks | Framework-specific component patterns |
Core Expertise
- Token Architecture: Organizing design tokens for scalability
- CSS Custom Properties: Variable patterns and inheritance
- Theme Systems: Light/dark mode, user preferences
- Component Integration: Applying tokens consistently
Token Structure
Three-Tier Architecture
/* 1. Primitive tokens (raw values) */
:root {
--color-blue-50: #eff6ff;
--color-blue-100: #dbeafe;
--color-blue-500: #3b82f6;
--color-blue-600: #2563eb;
--color-blue-700: #1d4ed8;
--spacing-1: 0.25rem;
--spacing-2: 0.5rem;
--spacing-4: 1rem;
--spacing-8: 2rem;
--font-size-sm: 0.875rem;
--font-size-base: 1rem;
--font-size-lg: 1.125rem;
}
/* 2. Semantic tokens (purpose-based) */
:root {
--color-primary: var(--color-blue-600);
--color-primary-hover: var(--color-blue-700);
--color-background: white;
--color-surface: var(--color-gray-50);
--color-text: var(--color-gray-900);
--color-text-muted: var(--color-gray-600);
--spacing-component: var(--spacing-4);
--spacing-section: var(--spacing-8);
}
/* 3. Component tokens (specific usage) */
.button {
--button-padding-x: var(--spacing-4);
--button-padding-y: var(--spacing-2);
--button-bg: var(--color-primary);
--button-bg-hover: var(--color-primary-hover);
--button-text: white;
padding: var(--button-padding-y) var(--button-padding-x);
background: var(--button-bg);
color: var(--button-text);
}
.button:hover {
background: var(--button-bg-hover);
}
Token Categories
:root {
/* Colors */ --color-{name}-{shade}: value;
/* Typography */ --font-family-{name}: value;
--font-size-{name}: value;
--font-weight-{name}: value;
--line-height-{name}: value;
/* Spacing */ --spacing-{scale}: value;
/* Borders */ --border-width-{name}: value;
--border-radius-{name}: value;
/* Shadows */ --shadow-{name}: value;
/* Transitions */ --duration-{name}: value;
--easing-{name}: value;
/* Z-index */ --z-{name}: value;
}
Theme Implementation
Light/Dark Mode
/* Default (light) theme */
:root {
--color-background: #ffffff;
--color-surface: #f9fafb;
--color-text: #111827;
--color-text-muted: #6b7280;
--color-border: #e5e7eb;
}
/* Dark theme */
[data-theme="dark"] {
--color-background: #111827;
--color-surface: #1f2937;
--color-text: #f9fafb;
--color-text-muted: #9ca3af;
--color-border: #374151;
}
/* System preference */
@media (prefers-color-scheme: dark) {
:root:not([data-theme="light"]) {
--color-background: #111827;
--color-surface: #1f2937;
--color-text: #f9fafb;
--color-text-muted: #9ca3af;
--color-border: #374151;
}
}
File Organization
Recommended Structure
styles/
├── tokens/
│ ├── primitives.css # Raw values
│ ├── semantic.css # Purpose-based tokens
│ └── index.css # Combines all tokens
├── themes/
│ ├── light.css # Light theme overrides
│ └── dark.css # Dark theme overrides
├── base/
│ ├── reset.css # CSS reset
│ └── typography.css # Base typography
└── components/
├── button.css
└── card.css
Component Integration
Component-Level Tokens
/* Card component with local tokens */
.card {
--card-padding: var(--spacing-4, 1rem);
--card-radius: var(--border-radius-lg, 0.5rem);
--card-shadow: var(--shadow-md);
--card-bg: var(--color-surface);
--card-border: var(--color-border);
padding: var(--card-padding);
border-radius: var(--card-radius);
box-shadow: var(--card-shadow);
background: var(--card-bg);
border: 1px solid var(--card-border);
}
/* Variant via token override */
.card--elevated {
--card-shadow: var(--shadow-lg);
}
.card--outlined {
--card-shadow: none;
--card-border: var(--color-border-strong);
}
Agentic Optimizations
| Context | Command |
|---|---|
| Find all CSS variables | grep -r '--[a-z]' styles/ --include='*.css' |
| Check token usage | grep -r 'var(--color-primary)' src/ --include='*.css' --include='*.tsx' |
| Find hardcoded colors | grep -rn '#[0-9a-fA-F]\{3,8\}' src/ --include='*.css' |
| List all token files | find styles/tokens -name '*.css' |
| Validate CSS syntax | npx stylelint 'styles/**/*.css' |
For detailed examples, advanced patterns, and best practices, see REFERENCE.md.
References
- CSS Custom Properties: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/CSS/CSS_cascading_variables
- Design Tokens Format: https://design-tokens.github.io/community-group/format/
- Style Dictionary: https://styledictionary.com/
- Tailwind CSS: https://tailwindcss.com/docs/customizing-colors
FAQ
What does the design-tokens skill do?
Design tokens and CSS custom properties: theme systems, dark mode, component libraries. Use when implementing design systems or user mentions tokens, CSS variables, or theming.
How do I install design-tokens?
Run npx skills add https://github.com/laurigates/claude-plugins --skill design-tokens in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/design-tokens/ (personal) or .claude/skills/design-tokens/ (project).
Which AI agents can use design-tokens?
Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.
Is design-tokens safe to install?
No partner security audit is available yet. Skills can run commands and scripts, so read the SKILL.md and any bundled files before installing.
Who maintains design-tokens?
It is published by laurigates in laurigates/claude-plugins. It has 82 recorded installs.
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