Design Tokens That Developers Actually Use

Tokens should map 1:1 to code variables — color, spacing, radius, typography, elevation. If engineers re-name everything in implementation, the system is broken.

Publish tokens as npm package or CSS custom properties consumed by Tailwind config. Single source of truth prevents drift.

Document component states: hover, focus, disabled, error. Accessibility is part of the token spec, not an audit surprise.

Version the system semver-style so product teams know when breaking visual changes ship.

Run office hours between design and engineering after each release to catch gaps early.