From design to code pipeline

Design tokens become powerful when integrated into automated workflows. Once defined and stored, often in a version-controlled repository, they can be transformed into platform-specific code, such as CSS variables, Swift constants, or Android XML. Tools like Style Dictionary or Tokens Studio enable this translation, ensuring design updates automatically propagate across all platforms without manual coding.

Pipelines can be fully automated or include a review step before release. After validation and testing, the updated tokens are published to package managers or internal libraries. Developers simply update dependencies to apply the latest design changes. This approach bridges design and engineering in real time, making tokens not just a design artifact but part of the product’s continuous delivery process.