Design tokens in practice

Tokens are contracts between design and engineering. Treat them like APIs: version thoughtfully, document intent, and avoid breaking changes without migration windows.

We rolled out tokens incrementally by scoping new surfaces first, codifying naming conventions, and pairing with designers on edge cases like density modes and focus rings.

The payoff is not just visual consistency—it is faster reviews, safer refactors, and a shared language that survives team churn.