Figma Simple Design System
Figma Simple Design System, or SDS, is a free web-based project that demonstrates a responsive design system across Figma and React code.
What Figma Simple Design System is
Figma Simple Design System, or SDS, is a free web-based project that demonstrates a responsive design system across Figma and React code. It shows how Variables, Styles, Components, and Code Connect can work together while leaving room for design customization beyond a basic theme layer. The codebase includes React primitives, layouts, hooks, providers, utilities, icons, and example compositions. Code Connect examples cover both individual primitives and compositions built from them. Storybook stories and a published Storybook are included, and scripts can retrieve Figma icons, variables, and styles to generate code assets. SDS can serve as a starting point for a new project or as examples of design-system practices. Code Connect needs a Figma API token with the file_code_connect_scope:write scope. The README identifies file_variables read and write scopes as Enterprise-plan only, and some integrations may require additional unavailable scopes. The project is alpha and distributed under the MIT License.
Good
- Free web-based design system project
- Responsive Figma and React examples
- React primitives, layouts, hooks, and utilities
- Storybook stories and published Storybook
- MIT License
Watch out
- Project status is alpha
- Code Connect requires a Figma API token
- Some variable scopes are Enterprise-only
- Integrations may need unavailable scopes
Who it suits
SDS suits developers and designers building responsive React systems with Figma assets. It is also useful for teams seeking a customizable starting point or implementation examples.
Verdict
SDS provides a broad bridge between Figma design assets and React implementation, with code examples and Storybook support. Teams should check API-scope requirements before relying on Code Connect workflows.
The facts
Each one read from Figma Simple Design System's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Additional scopes
- Some example integrations may need extra API scopes that an organization may not have access to.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Authentication requirement
- Using Code Connect requires a Figma API token with the file_code_connect_scope:write scope.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Code Connect
- SDS includes Code Connect examples for both primitive components and compositions of those primitives.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Components
- The codebase includes compositions, hooks, icons, layout components, primitives, providers, and utilities.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Customizability
- SDS aims to reflect its implications in code while allowing design customization beyond a simple theming layer.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Design and code
- SDS aims to bridge gaps between design and development while allowing design customizability beyond a simple theming layer.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Developer tools
- The README provides commands to run the app and Storybook locally after installing dependencies with npm.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Figma API
- The provided scripts can retrieve icons, variables, and styles from Figma and generate code assets.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Figma API access
- Code Connect requires a Figma API token with the file_code_connect_scope:write scope; optional scripts may require additional scopes.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Intended use
- The repository says SDS can help start a new project or provide examples of design system best practices.checked 7 Oct 2026
- License
- The repository is marked as MIT licensed.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Project status
- The README identifies Simple Design System as alpha.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Simple Design System is a base design system showing how Figma Variables, Styles, Components, and Code Connect can work alongside a React codebase.checked 7 Oct 2026
- React components
- The codebase includes React primitives, layouts, hooks, providers, utilities, and example compositions.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Responsive design
- The project demonstrates a responsive web design system spanning design and code.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Storybook
- The repository provides Storybook stories and links to a published Storybook.checked 7 Oct 2026
The company
- Maker
- Figma's company background document states that Figma was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in San Francisco.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Maker location
- Figma's GitHub organization profile lists San Francisco, California.checked 7 Oct 2026
Money
- Plan limitation
- The README says reading and writing file variables through the listed API scopes is Enterprise plan only.checked 7 Oct 2026
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