World-renowned design systems experts Brad Frost (creator of Atomic Design) and Ian
Frost teach you everything you need to know about creating an effective design token system to help your organization design and build
at scale.
Course includes:
Over 10 hours of in-depth videos
Figma & code sample architecture
Naming & governance workflows
PDF with examples and resources
Certificate of completion
Live team training option
Master the art of design tokens
"DeSiGn SyStEmS MaKe EvErYtThInG lOoK tHe SaMe." Sound familiar?
Your organization supports many products, platforms, brands, and modes. The design system you lovingly care for unlocks desperately-needed efficiency & consistency, which is great! But each product has its own unique design needs, so how can we provide the benefits of shared systems without forcing everything to look exactly the same?
The answer is design tokens! For over a decade, we've helped dozens of organizations — including much of the Fortune 500 — create design token systems to help them strike the balance between consistency/efficiency and expression/innovation. It's hard and tricky work!
That's why we're so excited to teach you all of our hard-earned lessons and share important concepts, Figma and code architecture, naming conventions, and processes to help you successfully create and maintain a robust design token system to serve your Multi-All-The-Things organization.
Who it's for: design system designers, developers, and managers
Skill level: Valuable for both teams getting started and teams with mature systems
Course Content
8 chapters of in-depth content, packed with core concepts, best practices, resources, insights, real-world stories, and actionable advice.
1
Design Token Core Concepts
Why design tokens are critical for orgs supporting Multi-All-The-Things: products, platforms, brands, modes, and more
Here's the gist of what we'll cover in this section:
The problem tokens solve: Multi-All-The-Things
design tokens to the rescue!
What Are Design Tokens?
Brief history
CSS Zen Garden - Separation of concerns
Sass!
Salesforce! Jina!
Why design tokens matter: use cases and applications
Multiple brands
Sub-brands
White-labeling
Seasons or Campaigns
Multiple generations of a design language
Multiple platforms or product families (web app vs marketing website)
Dark and light themes
Where they live in the design system ecosystem
Tokens in design and code
Design tokens in design tools like Figma
Design tokens in code
Source of truth
Design tokens in documentation
2
Token foundations & architecture
3-tiered design token architecture, color systems, typography systems, border, spacing, and more
Here's the gist of what we'll cover in this section:
Tools, structure, and pragmatic advice to help you conquer the biggest pain in the ass around creating a token system
Here's the gist of what we'll cover in this section:
Why naming matters
Why naming is hard
Naming principles
Clarity over cleverness
Legibility over brevity
Predictable patterns
Cross-discipline understanding
Naming structure by tier
Tier 1: Raw value naming conventions
Tier 2: Semantic naming conventions
Tier 3: Component-specific and special cases naming conventions
Naming parity between design and code
4
Building a token system
Figma Variables, Style Dictionary, and other tools. The good, bad, and ugly of synchronization and automation
Here's the gist of what we'll cover in this section:
Implementation in Figma
Variables and other solutions
Figma Variables setup
Creating collections
Setting up modes
Variable types
Organization strategies
Token management
Creating variables
Establishing relationships
Alias management
Code implementation
Style Dictionary setup
Installation and configuration
File structure
Build process
Token formats
JSON structure
CSS custom properties
Platform-specific formats
Synchronization considerations
Design-to-code workflows
Automation tools and plugins
Tokens Studio
Figma REST API
Custom solutions
Manual sync processes
5
Publishing a token system
Tokens as a product. Figma team libraries, npm and it's ilk. What to publish. Coordinating releases.
Here's the gist of what we'll cover in this section:
Figma publication
Team library setup
Version management
Access control
Distribution strategy
Code package publishing
Package management
npm configuration
Version control
Distribution files
CDN deployment
Build process
File organization
Cache management
Release management
Changelogs
Documentation updates
Communication strategy
Feedback loops
6
Using design tokens
The user experience of design tokens; how design system consumers use design tokens
Here's the gist of what we'll cover in this section:
Designer workflow
Library subscription
Token application
Component usage
Custom designs
Documentation
Developer implementation
Package installation
Token consumption
Component integration
Custom styling
Platform-specific usage
Cross-platform implementation
Web applications
Native mobile apps
Other digital touchpoints
7
Maintaining & evolving token systems
Pilot projects, token czars, branching, versioning, releasing, and token system governance
Here's the gist of what we'll cover in this section:
System governance
Token czars
Roles and responsibilities
Decision-making authority
Team structure
Change management
Request process
Review workflows
Approval chains
Product lifecycle phases
Phase 1: Initial architecture
Pilot projects
Core architecture establishment
Initial theme development
Phase 2: Guided expansion
Theme additions
Architecture refinement
Documentation improvement
Phase 3: Distributed management
Scale considerations
Team training
Governance evolution
Version control and releases
Branching strategies
Semantic versioning
Release coordination
Design and code sync
Documentation updates
Communication plans
8
Advanced design tokens
Dark mode, rebrands, sub-brands, white-labeling, multiple product families, and more
Here's the gist of what we'll cover in this section:
Dark mode implementation
Architecture considerations
Value mapping
Platform-specific handling
Brand management
Subbrands
Inheritance patterns
Override strategies
Maintenance considerations
White labeling
Inheritance patterns
Value customization
User experience
Complex environments
Multiple product families
Legacy system integration
Platform-specific challenges
Rebranding support
Architecture preparation
Migration strategies
Version management
Rollout planning
Future considerations
AI integration possibilities
Emerging standards
Tool evolution
All of this content is supplemented with sample architecture in Figma and code, Naming/governance architecture diagram boilerplates in FigJam, and thorough slides packed with plenty of resources.
About your teachers
Hi, we're your teachers for this course, Brad Frost and Ian Frost! With over 28 years of professional web design/development experience, there's a fair-to-good chance we've built & consulted on more enterprise-level design systems than nearly anyone else on the planet. Over the past decade, we've co-created & consulted on themeable design systems for dozens of Multi-All-The-Things organizations, including:
Co-created multi-brand, multi-platform system
Co-created multi-brand, multi-platform, multi-generation system
Co-created multi-brand (300+ brands!), multi-platform system
Co-created multi-generation, multi-platform system
Co-created multi-platform, multi-generation, multi-brand system
Consulted on multi-brand, multi-platform system
Consulted on multi-brand, multi-platform system
Co-created multi-brand, multi-generation, multi-platform system
Co-created multi-brand, multi-platform system
Co-created multi-brand system
Brad Frost
Hi, I'm Brad Frost! I'm a design system consultant, front-end developer, teacher, speaker, writer, musician, and artist. I'm so incredibly passionate about the web, creativity, and helping people collaborate to make great digital things together.
Over the course of my career, I've helped teams establish and evolve design systems by introducing solid architecture and more collaborative processes and culture. I created Atomic Design, and my book introduces a methodology to create and maintain effective design systems. I've been a part of a slew of design systems projects, including co-hosting the Style, inventing Pattern Lab, curating Styleguides.io, creating Style Guide Guide, and many others.
I love creating things, and I'm equally passionate about teaching. Through conferences, workshops, trainings, seminars, my long-running blog, my book, and other avenues, I've taught design systems best practices to hundreds of thousands of designers and developers all over the world.
I live in beautiful Pittsburgh, PA with my wife, my daughter Ella, and our French bulldog Bootsy. When I'm not neck-deep in design tokens, you can find me playing music and creating things any chance I can get.
Ian Frost
I'm Ian Frost, Brad's younger brother. I'm a front-end architect, technical lead, and consultant who loves to help level up developers.
I've been developing design systems alongside Brad since 2015. Over the years, I've built design systems in many technologies: Web Components, React, Angular, Vue, and others. I've partnered with tech leads, developers, and designers from dozens of organizations to help them successfully establish, implement, and maintain sturdy design system and token architecture. This work is equal parts art and science, and I'm so excited to share our hard-earned lessons to make your life easier.
Before my life as a web designer, I was a professional meteorologist. When I'm not slingin' code or forecasting for snow, you can find me playing music, sports, or spending time with my wife and son.
Testimonials
Trusted by industry leaders, tool makers, Fortune 500 clients, and thousands of professionals, Brad and Ian's work influences how the industry designs and builds digital products.
Brad is a long-time trusted expert in Design Systems, who literally wrote the book on Atomic Design. He's one of the most knowledgeable people in this space, and this paired with his depth and knowledge of Figma makes him a perfect person to run a deep-dive course on Design Tokens.
Decomposing a design system into subatomic particles is a difficult art to
master. I'm stoked that Brad and Ian, some of the best people to learn from, are launching a course that will undoubtedly help teams
ramp up their expertise in design tokens.
Brad is a luminary at the intersection of design and frontend. This course is a pragmatic and
future-thinking way to get design tokens into production.
Brad has been instrumental in advancing the concept of design tokens and design systems. I am constantly referring to Brad's talks and articles, especially the article about a three-tiered approach to design tokens. Brad and Ian are amazing teachers and writers so I know this course will be amazing.
Brad Frost is one of the most original creative thinkers I know, and he has long been ahead of the curve on the collaboration between modern design and development. Take this course and you’ll not only get far more done in less time, you’ll also enjoy your work more, while rising in the opinion of your colleagues and stakeholders.
I can't think of better people to teach Design Tokens than Brad and Ian. Their years of experience building sophisticated design systems for a wide range of organizations and products have given them a deep knowledge of all things design systems—balancing what's possible with what's practical. With this course, you will learn everything you need to know and have fun doing it!
You want to learn about building design systems from someone who has built design systems. Like, a
lot of them. For totally different organizations. Take this course and learn how to do it, not in the abstract or theoretically, but
from people who get paid doing this exact work.
Brad and Ian Frost are renowned industry experts in design systems for a reason: they have worked deeply with varied companies through the industry for decades, building durable, thoughtful, and maintainable architectures. Taking a course with them is an accelerant to any developer: being able to incorporate years of expert experience into your own practice.
Over the past decade working in Design Systems I've relied on Brad's ideas, advice, and resources
countless times to help frame discussions and move forwards. Quite literally, I did it this week! Brad and Ian
are not only people with big ideas about Design Systems, but also people who repeatedly demonstrate their ability to
execute and deliver complete systems to empower teams all over the world.
I would follow Brad into any design token battle! His experience, perspective, and thoughtful way of communicating makes him an amazing resource and teacher. Any course led by him and Ian is guaranteed to be worth the investment!
Brad is one of the top design systems experts I recommend to my students. In a space full of noise and quick-money promises, his work stands out for being thoughtful, practical, and grounded in real experience. I've learned so much from his articles, workshops, and courses. Brad makes complex ideas clear and approachable, and his fun, down-to-earth style makes learning from him an absolute joy. He really knows his stuff—and shares it in a way that just clicks.
Brad Frost and Ian Frost are absolute powerhouses in their field. Atomic Design has shaped the way
the tech industry approaches design, and I had the opportunity to work with them on a major project for a Fortune 10 company. If you're
looking to deepen your understanding of design systems, you won't find better guides than Brad and Ian. Their new course is bound to be
a goldmine for anyone wanting to create scalable and impactful work.
Nobody knows this stuff like Brad and Ian Frost. Brad practically invented the web design system with Atomic Design, and Ian is quite possibly one of the best front-end devs in the world. When they teach they light up the room—not just with knowledge, but fun and enthusiasm. Recommended.
Brad and Ian bring years of hands-on experience, making them the perfect guides for mastering
design tokens. This course delivers practical, actionable guidance you can put to work straight away.
You know your design system. But Brad and Ian know a multitude of design systems—like, literally
hundreds! Take advantage of their experience and benefit from everything they've learned along the way to make sure your design system
is best in class.
Brad and Ian have been at the forefront of design systems since the beginning. I can't think of two safer pairs of hands to not only teach folks about how to do anything with design systems. More than that, they'll teach you how to do it right.
I've known Brad for over 10 years and he REALLY knows his stuff. Hell, his book Atomic Design
pretty much put design systems on the map. But even more important is how he works. Atomic Design was built in the open, for free, for
anyone. He just wants good ideas to be out there. Not only that, he takes a healthy chunk of his earnings and
gives it to charity. Brad and Ian aren't just smart; they're good people.
Brad's writing and work have redefined how our industry builds and scales design systems and design tokens. He has a rare gift for taking even the most complex topics and making them accessible. Whether you're a beginner trying to learn the basics or an experienced practitioner refining your approach, Brad and Ian are the perfect pair to lead you through all the topics, details, and steps.
If you’re looking to level up your knowledge of design systems and design tokens, you’re in the right place. Brad and Ian are two of the smartest people I know when it comes to this stuff. They make complex ideas easy to understand and keep things fun along the way. You’ll learn a ton and have a great time doing it!
I've known Brad and Ian for a while now and I am continually impressed with the way they (1) care
for the people around them and (2) share what they've learned through their considerable portfolio of work. I can't think of many folks
who are as qualified to share this kind of knowledge with the community!
Brad's work is one of the first things I consult whenever I'm stuck on a tricky design systems problem. His contributions to the industry are colossal.
I've no doubt that his and Ian's upcoming course will prove instrumental, and a solid investment for anyone working on design tokens.
What you've got here is people with years and years of design systems experience with all shapes and sizes of organisation, sharing their knowledge in a way you'll actually be able to apply to your systems - and it helps that they're some of the nicest people you'd meet!
Skip to the end of your design token quest, Brad and Ian have a course out. This power duo combines
years of industry experience into a high-quality course about design tokens.
Brad and Ian have spent years helping companies make sense of design tokens. Let them to do the same for you.
I've long admired Brad and Ian's work—their insights, tools, and generous sharing of knowledge. They're not just experts in design systems but also funny, honest, and thoughtful educators.
When Brad and Ian have something to say, I stop to listen. Their advocacy for iterative
cross-disciplinary collaboration and for core web technologies rekindles and sustains the spirit of the web. Their foundational work
endures hype cycles and continues to inspire new generations of developers.
Every time I run into Brad (and sometimes when I don't) we have wild conversations about the minutia of design token organization and management. Wild! But also practical. This is the foundation of any design system, and I'm excited to see how Brad pulls it all together.
I've known Brad for years having spoken at many of the same conferences, and can attest that he really knows his stuff and is a world expert on design systems. I have full confidence that this course will be fantastic, and I'm personally looking forward to it!
I've known Brad and Ian for over 10 years and I've watched as they've shared their deep knowledge with design systems teams and practitioners around the world. They've worked with teams of all sizes, and I know that you'll learn from two experts who've seen and experienced the real-world challenges that folks face in their day-to-day work.
The industry needs a course like this that focuses on the fundamentals of how we think about the systematic expression of a brand. Much like how Atomic Design changed the way we all thought about modular reusable interfaces, this course will help put the industry on a pathway toward a structured and practical understanding of how design tokens can deliver immense value at scale.
Here's the deal: We're working hard on the course and will be rolling out the first chapters in January 2025 (right around the corner!). In the meantime, we're offering a significant preorder discount for people passionate about design tokens who want to join us on this journey. By preordering, you'll get:
Over 25% off the full price
An exclusive video featuring tips, resources, and immedate actions you can take
First access to each new chapter as soon as it's ready
Help shape the course as its made by giving us feedback
Access to a private Slack channel for the duration of the course
Our eternal gratitude for supporting us
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Available for preorder - Individual, designer+developer pair, and team/enterprise licenses
Once the course is complete - we'll offer discounts for students, freelancers, job hunters, and purchasing power parity.
Even if you're not ready to preorder (we totally understand!), sign up to stay in the loop. We'll share useful design token tips, resources, and course snippets along the way. We hate email too, so we promise no bullshit.
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We're so excited to bring this course to life. Thanks so much for your support!
