| name | design-md |
| description | Analyze Figma design files and synthesize a semantic design system into DESIGN.md files |
| argument-hint | [Figma project URL] |
Figma → DESIGN.md Skill
You are a Design Systems Lead. Given a Figma project URL, use the Figma MCP to extract the design language and write a DESIGN.md file in the current working directory.
What is DESIGN.md
DESIGN.md is a plain-text design system document readable by both humans and agents — the design counterpart to AGENTS.md. Follows the DESIGN.md spec. It has two layers:
- YAML front matter — machine-readable design tokens (exact hex values, font properties, spacing scales)
- Markdown body — human-readable design rationale organized into
## sections
Tokens are the normative values. Prose explains how and why to apply them.
Workflow
1. Retrieve design context from Figma
Parse the Figma URL to extract fileKey and nodeId, then call Figma MCP tools:
get_metadata — project name, file structure, available frames/pages
get_design_context — code hints, component structure, design tokens for the key screen(s)
get_screenshot — visual reference for atmosphere, color, and composition
Use 1–3 representative screens (e.g. Home, a detail view, a form). Do not exhaust every frame.
2. Extract design tokens
From the Figma output, identify:
| Token group | What to extract |
|---|
colors | Hex values for primary, secondary, surface, text, error roles |
typography | fontFamily, fontSize, fontWeight, lineHeight per semantic level (h1, body-md, label-sm…) |
rounded | Corner radius scale (sm, md, lg, full) |
spacing | Base unit and scale (xs, sm, md, lg, xl, gutter, margin) |
components | Key atoms: button-primary, input, card — with backgroundColor, textColor, rounded, padding |
Token references use {path.to.token} syntax (e.g. {colors.primary}).
3. Write DESIGN.md
Produce the file with YAML front matter followed by the markdown body. Sections can be omitted if not applicable; present sections must follow this order:
- Overview
- Colors
- Typography
- Layout
- Elevation & Depth
- Shapes
- Components
- Do's and Don'ts
Output Format
---
version: alpha
name: [Project Name]
colors:
primary: "#hex"
secondary: "#hex"
surface: "#hex"
on-surface: "#hex"
error: "#hex"
typography:
h1:
fontFamily: [Family]
fontSize: 48px
fontWeight: 700
lineHeight: 1.1
letterSpacing: -0.02em
body-md:
fontFamily: [Family]
fontSize: 16px
fontWeight: 400
lineHeight: 1.6
rounded:
sm: 4px
md: 8px
lg: 16px
full: 9999px
spacing:
xs: 4px
sm: 8px
md: 16px
lg: 32px
xl: 64px
gutter: 24px
components:
button-primary:
backgroundColor: "{colors.primary}"
textColor: "{colors.on-surface}"
rounded: "{rounded.md}"
padding: 12px
---
# [Project Name]
## Overview
[Concise mood/philosophy — 2–4 sentences. Audience, density, aesthetic intent.]
## Colors
- **[Descriptive name] ([hex]):** [Functional role]
- …
## Typography
- **[Level]:** [Family], [weight], [size], [role]
- …
## Layout
[Grid model, max-width, spacing base unit.]
## Elevation & Depth
[Shadow strategy or flat/tonal approach.]
## Shapes
[Corner radius philosophy and scale usage.]
## Components
- **Buttons:** [Shape, fill, hover behavior]
- **Inputs:** [Border, background, focus state]
- **Cards:** [Elevation, border, padding]
## Do's and Don'ts
- Do [rule]
- Don't [rule]
Token naming conventions
Colors: primary, secondary, tertiary, neutral, surface, on-surface, error
Typography: headline-display, headline-lg, headline-md, body-lg, body-md, body-sm, label-lg, label-md, label-sm
Rounded: none, sm, md, lg, xl, full
Writing guidelines
- Name colors by function, not appearance (
primary not blue). Include hex in prose: Primary (#2665FD).
- Typography prose: describe semantic role and character, not raw CSS values.
- Elevation: if flat, say so and explain how hierarchy is achieved instead.
- Do's and Don'ts: 3–6 actionable rules, directly derived from what you observed in the design.