Design System File Structure
The “Design System File Structure” – Template helps you define a scalable and team-friendly structure for your Figma files, so that everyone in your organization can work consistently and efficiently with the Design System.
The file structure is designed to support both the Design System Core Team and cross-functional Product Teams. It clarifies which files are centrally maintained by the Design System team and which ones are owned and editable by Product or Platform Teams. This clear separation of ownership fosters autonomy while ensuring visual and structural consistency across all products and platforms.
The template not only defines where files should live, but also outlines what exactly belongs in each one. It includes a detailed breakdown of the Foundations (e.g. tokens, grids, spacing, color, typography), the structure of Token files (including Variables and Themes), and which components belong in the Core Libraries versus the Platform or Product Libraries. This clarity helps reduce duplication, improves onboarding, and enables smooth collaboration across teams.
By following this template, teams benefit from clearly defined responsibilities, predictable file navigation, and an easy handover process. The structure ensures that your design system can scale without becoming fragmented or redundant.
How to use the Design System File Structure Template
The template is divided into key file categories that reflect different ownership and usage contexts:
Fundamental Libraries – Maintained by the Design System team. Include base design elements such as tokens, spacing systems, grids, color palettes, icons and typography styles.
Core Components Library – Maintained by the Design System team. Includes core components and patterns with variants and documentation.
Platform Libraries – Maintained by the Design System team. Includes platform-specific components and patterns, e.g. for Web, Mobile App, or larger Touch Interfaces.
Product-Level UI Kits – Owned by Product and Platform Teams. Feature product-specific compositions, page layouts, and adaptations built using the fundamentals and core components.
Playgrounds (per segment) – Flexible environments for assessments, ideation, prototyping, and explorations. Maintained by the Design System Teams, contributed by the Product and Platform Teams.
Archive (per segment) – Structured areas for deprecated or outdated files. Helps maintain file hygiene while preserving historical references.
Guidelines & Onboarding Files – Maintained by the Design System team. Provide documentation, best practices, usage principles, and onboarding support for all stakeholders.
Each section includes naming conventions and best practices to ensure clarity, reusability, and consistency. Just follow the guide and adapt the structure as needed to fit your team’s requirements, product portfolio, and platform landscape.
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