How to Integrate Figma Design Tokens with Material UI in React

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Design tokens and component libraries offer significant advantages for web development. This article demonstrates how to integrate Figma design tokens with Material UI in React to establish a well-structured and customizable design system.

Prerequisites

• Understanding of React, Material UI, and design token concepts.
• A Figma project where design tokens are defined.
• Exported design tokens ready for your React project (JSON or JavaScript object).

Steps

1. Export and Transform Design Tokens
   • Employ a plugin in Figma (such as Figma Tokens) to export your design tokens in a JSON-like format.
   • If necessary, utilize Style Dictionary to transform tokens into a JavaScript object usable by your React project.

2. Create a Material UI Theme

   • Import createTheme from Material UI.

   • Establish a new theme, mapping Figma design tokens to Material UI theme properties:
     

     JavaScriptimport { createTheme } from '@mui/material/styles';
     import tokens from './theme'; // Your design token file
     const theme = createTheme({
       palette: {
         primary: {
           main: tokens.color.primary,
         },
         // ... other color mappings
       },
       typography: { 
         // ... typography mappings
       },
       spacing: tokens.space 
     });
     

3. Apply the Theme with ThemeProvider

   • Import ThemeProvider from Material UI.

   • Enclose your top-level React component with ThemeProvider, providing your custom theme:
     

     JavaScriptimport { ThemeProvider } from '@mui/material/styles';
     function App() {
       return (
         <ThemeProvider theme={theme}>
           {/* Your React Components */}
         </ThemeProvider>
       );
     }
     

Example – Styling a Button

Illustrating use of a spacing token within button padding:

JavaScript// theme.js
module.exports = {
  space: {
    paddingMedium: 16
  }
};

// React Component
import { Button } from '@mui/material';

<Button 
  variant="contained" 
  sx={{ padding: theme.space.paddingMedium }} 
>
  Click Me
</Button> 

Additional Considerations

• Tool Assistance: For complex projects, Style Dictionary helps with theming format conversions.
• Specificity: To adjust individual components, prioritize Material UI's sx prop or stylesheets over theme attributes.

Conclusion

The smooth integration of Figma design tokens with Material UI enables a coherent design language across your React application. This technique simplifies development, facilitates effortless brand changes, and improves the overall user experience.