Rapid Prototyping with Design Tokens + Figma Variables

Published On - September 4, 2025

Olivia Brown Blog

Designing is exciting. But getting from zero to wow can be time-consuming. That’s where rapid prototyping comes in. It lets you go from idea to interface quickly—without waiting for every single detail to be perfect.

Now imagine pairing rapid prototyping with design tokens and Figma Variables. That’s like turning your creative process into a superpower. Let’s break it down in the simplest and most fun way possible.

What is Rapid Prototyping?

Rapid prototyping is the fast creation of a visual or functional version of your product.

You can:

  • Test ideas
  • Get feedback early
  • Save time and energy

It’s not about building the final thing. It’s about testing what works and what doesn’t—fast.

Okay, But What are Design Tokens?

Design tokens are simple. Think of them as values that describe your brand’s design system.

For example:

  • Colors—like primary and secondary
  • Typography settings—like font-size and line-height
  • Spacing—like padding and margins

Instead of writing a hex code like #FF5733 all the time, you can just use color-primary.

That makes updates a breeze. Change the token value—and everything updates. Magic? Almost.

Enter: Figma Variables!

Figma Variables take design tokens and give them a home. They live inside your Figma files, ready to use in designs, components, and more.

Here’s what Figma Variables can do:

  • Store reusable values (like colors, numbers, strings, etc.)
  • Switch styles easily—dark mode, anyone?
  • Make global changes without hunting through layers

This makes your designs smarter and your prototyping faster. Like… way faster.

Breaking It Down with a Fun Analogy

Imagine you’re building a sandwich. Design tokens are like the ingredients: bread, lettuce, cheese, tomato. Figma Variables are your organized fridge with labeled shelves for each item.

Want to make a new sandwich? Just grab your preset ingredients. Need something gluten-free? Swap the bread, and every sandwich updates.

Efficient. Delicious. Design magic.

So… How Does This Help with Rapid Prototyping?

Rapid prototyping is all about speed and flexibility.

Here’s how design tokens + Figma Variables help:

  1. Consistency: Every design is aligned with your brand’s look and feel.
  2. Speed: Change one token, update your whole prototype instantly.
  3. Adaptability: Need to change themes? Switch Figma Variable modes in one click.
  4. Collaboration: Share a system that everyone understands—from product to engineering.

Let’s See an Example

Say you’re working on a mobile app prototype. You’ve got:

  • Color tokens: Brand colors, background, text
  • Text tokens: Headline, body, captions
  • Spacing tokens: Padding, margins, gutters

In Figma, set all your styles with variables pulled from these tokens.

Now you need to create a second version of the app. This time, for night mode. Here’s how this would go without tokens:

  • Click on every layer
  • Change every background
  • Tweak every text style

Now what if you’re using Figma Variables?

You just switch to a dark mode variable set. Done. All colors flip. No tears involved.

How to Get Started (Fast)

If this sounds awesome (and it is), here’s how you can try it:

1. Define Your Tokens

Start simple. Think about the basic parts of your design system:

  • Primary colors
  • Font sizes
  • Spacing scales

Use names that make sense to your whole team.

2. Set Up Figma Variables

In your Figma file:

  • Go to the Variables panel
  • Create categories like colors, textStyles, spacing
  • Assign values to each
  • Create multiple modes (like light and dark)

3. Use Them in Your Components

Whether you’re designing buttons, cards, layouts—apply variables instead of fixed values. Now you’re future-proofing your design.

4. Watch the Magic Happen

Once variables are set, you can adjust an entire design with a click. It’s scalable. It’s smart. It’s simply better.

Tips for Success

  • Name tokens clearly: No one wants to guess what “purple-25-shade-4-new” means.
  • Document your tokens: So new team members can jump in fast.
  • Start small: Don’t try to tokenize everything at once. Begin with colors or typography.

Advanced Move: Tokens to Code

Here’s cool news: design tokens don’t just live in Figma. You can export them into code.

Many tools (like Style Dictionary or Tokens Studio) help sync tokens from design to development.

This means your prototype and your product stay in perfect harmony.

Quick Example of a Token

Let’s take a color token:


{
  "color.primary": {
    "value": "#007BFF",
    "type": "color"
  }
}

In Figma? Just name your token color.primary.

In code? Use var(--color-primary).

In your head? You now know where ONE color value controls hundreds of components.

Conclusion: Faster, Smarter, Fun-er (It’s a Word Now!)

Rapid prototyping is all about building momentum. Combining it with design tokens and Figma Variables is like putting rocket boosters on your design system.

You stay aligned, move faster, and build better experiences—with less effort.

So take the leap! Build your first variable set. Start small and evolve. You’ll be surprised how much smoother everything becomes when your designs are powered by systems instead of guesswork.

And remember—the best prototypes start with great ingredients and a clean fridge. Happy designing!