figma-spacing-system

Figma Spacing System Skill

Produces a complete spacing and layout token system — the foundation that makes a design system consistent and developer handoff unambiguous.

Required Inputs

• Platform (iOS / Android / Web / Multi-platform)
• Base unit (4px / 8px — default to 8px)
• Design system name (for token naming)
• Component density (compact / standard / comfortable)
• Grid requirements (or "derive from platform standard")

Output Structure

1. Base Unit

[4px or 8px] with rationale. All values must be multiples.

2. Spacing Scale

| Token | Value | Use case |

|---|---|---|

| spacing.none | 0px | Removing space intentionally |

| spacing.xs | 4/8px | Icon padding, tight labels |

| spacing.sm | 8/12px | Internal component padding compact |

| spacing.md | 12/16px | Internal component padding standard |

| spacing.lg | 16/24px | Section padding, card internal |

| spacing.xl | 24/32px | Between components |

| spacing.2xl | 32/48px | Section separation |

| spacing.3xl | 48/64px | Page-level breaks |

| spacing.4xl | 64/96px | Hero sections |

3. Layout Grid

Mobile (375px): 4 columns, margin [value], gutter [value]

Tablet (768px): 8 columns, margin [value], gutter [value]

Desktop (1440px): 12 columns, margin [value], gutter [value], max content width [value]

4. Component Spacing Conventions

| Context | Token | Example |

|---|---|---|

| Button horizontal padding | spacing.md | Left/right |

| Button vertical padding | spacing.sm | Top/bottom |

| Card internal padding | spacing.lg | All sides |

| Input padding | spacing.sm vertical, spacing.md horizontal | |

| Icon gap from label | spacing.xs | |

| Section gap | spacing.xl | |

5. Figma Implementation

1. Create SPACING page documenting each token visually
2. Resources > Variables > create Number collection named Spacing
3. Apply variables to Auto Layout padding/gap values
4. Share token names with engineers as-is or via Tokens Studio

6. Anti-Patterns to Avoid

• Values not on the scale (13px, 22px) — round to nearest token
• Absolute pixel values in components instead of tokens
• Mixing 4px and 8px base units in the same product

Quality Checks

• [ ] All token values are multiples of the base unit
• [ ] Scale covers xs through 4xl
• [ ] Grid defined for all relevant breakpoints
• [ ] Component conventions cover common decisions
• [ ] Figma implementation steps included

Anti-Patterns

• [ ] Do not create a spacing scale with arbitrary values — the scale must follow a consistent mathematical ratio (e.g. 4px base, 8-4-2 system)
• [ ] Do not define spacing tokens without Figma implementation instructions — token names alone are not actionable
• [ ] Do not create a spacing system that doesn't account for component-level spacing conventions — global tokens and component usage must both be documented
• [ ] Do not skip grid definitions — spacing without a grid system is incomplete layout foundation documentation
• [ ] Do not produce a spacing system that ignores responsive behaviour — define how spacing adapts across breakpoints

Example Trigger Phrases

• "Create a spacing system for our Figma design system"
• "Define our spacing tokens for Figma"
• "Set up a grid and spacing scale for [product]"
• "What spacing values should we use in our design system?"
• "Help me build the layout foundation for our Figma file"