Choosing Between Figma Variables and Design Token Studio: A Checklist for Small Companies

When small companies are looking to streamline their design and development processes, choosing the right tools can be critical. Both Figma Variables and Design Token Studio offer valuable features but cater to slightly different needs. This checklist is designed to help small companies decide which tool better fits their workflow, taking into account functionality, integration, pricing, and the requirements for enterprise-level features.

Checklist for Choosing the Right Tool

1. Assess Your Workflow Needs

   • Do you need a tool primarily for design consistency within Figma?

   • Do you require a tool to ensure design consistency across multiple platforms (e.g., iOS, Android, Web)?

2. Consider Your Team Structure

   • Is your team made up only of designers, or does it include developers as well?

   • Do you work closely with developers and need design decisions implemented accurately in code?

3. Evaluate Your Budget Constraints

   • What is your budget for design tools?

   • Can you afford a subscription that supports more advanced features?

4. Understand the Feature Set

   • Are you looking for simple variable management within a design tool?

   • Do you need advanced token management that includes exporting tokens in various formats for development use?

5. Review Pricing and Subscription Requirements

   • Check if Figma’s free or professional plans offer enough functionality, or if you need an Enterprise subscription for full features.

   • Investigate if Design Token Studio’s free version meets your needs, or if the Pro plan is necessary for full functionality.

6. Look into Integration and Compatibility

   • Will the tool integrate smoothly with your existing tools and systems?

   • Do you need a tool that supports exporting design tokens in formats like JSON, CSS, or SCSS?

7. Future Scalability

   • Is the tool scalable as your company grows and your needs evolve?

   • Does the tool support updating and extending tokens and variables easily for future changes?

Pricing and Subscription Details

Figma Variables

• Free Plan: Limited features, suitable for small projects and individual designers.

• Professional Plan: Offers more features but may lack some advanced variable management capabilities.

• Enterprise Plan: Includes full features for variable management and additional collaboration tools, necessary for comprehensive design systems integration.

  • Pricing: Figma's Enterprise plan pricing is not publicly listed and usually requires contacting sales for a quote.

Design Token Studio

• Free Version: Basic features are available, but might be limited in terms of exporting and advanced management.

• Pro Plan: Includes comprehensive features for managing and exporting design tokens.

  • Pricing: The Pro plan of Design Token Studio typically offers a flat rate or a monthly subscription fee which is accessible for most small companies.

Key Takeaway

For small companies, if budget constraints are tight and your needs are straightforward, using Figma with its basic variables functionality might suffice. However, if your design and development workflow requires robust management of design tokens that need to be consistently applied across different platforms, investing in Design Token Studio's Pro plan could be more beneficial. This decision should also consider the potential future growth of your team and project complexity, as switching tools later can be costly and disruptive.

By systematically evaluating your specific needs against this checklist, you can make an informed decision that aligns with both your operational requirements and budgetary constraints.