home / skills / alekspetrov / navigator / product-design
This skill automates design review, token extraction, and implementation planning from Figma, slashing handoff time by hours and boosting accuracy.
npx playbooks add skill alekspetrov/navigator --skill product-designReview the files below or copy the command above to add this skill to your agents.
---
name: product-design
description: Automates design review, token extraction, component mapping, and implementation planning. Reduces design handoff from 6-10 hours to 5 minutes via direct Figma MCP integration. Auto-invoke when user mentions design review, Figma mockup, or design handoff.
allowed-tools: Read, Write, Edit, Grep, Glob, Bash, Task, TodoWrite
version: 1.1.0
---
# Product Design Skill
Automate design handoff from Figma to code with design system intelligence. Extract tokens, map components, detect drift, generate implementation plans.
## When to Invoke
Auto-invoke when user says:
- "Review this design"
- "Analyze Figma mockup"
- "Design handoff for [feature]"
- "Check design system impact"
- "Plan implementation for design"
- "Extract tokens from Figma"
- "What changed in the design?"
## What This Does
**5-Step Workflow**:
1. **Design Analysis**: Extract patterns, components, tokens from Figma
2. **Codebase Audit**: Compare design vs implementation, find drift
3. **Implementation Planning**: Generate phased task breakdown
4. **Task Assignment**: Create Navigator task document
5. **Handoff**: Ask user to review or start implementation
**Time Savings**: 6-10 hours → 15-20 minutes (95% reduction)
## Prerequisites
### Required
1. **Python Dependencies**
```bash
cd skills/product-design
./setup.sh # Automated installation
# OR manually: pip install -r requirements.txt
```
2. **Figma Desktop** (for automated workflow)
- Download: https://www.figma.com/downloads/
- Enable MCP: Figma → Preferences → Enable local MCP Server
- Must be running during design reviews
3. **Project Structure**
- `.agent/design-system/` directory (created on first run)
- Project with components (React/Vue/Svelte)
### Optional (Enhanced Features)
- **Figma Enterprise**: Code Connect for automatic component mapping
- **Tailwind CSS**: Design token integration via @theme
- **Storybook**: Component documentation and visual regression
### Installation
**Quick start**:
```bash
cd skills/product-design
./setup.sh
```
See `INSTALL.md` for detailed installation guide and troubleshooting.
## Workflow Protocol
### Step 0: Check Setup (Auto-Run)
**Before starting, verify Python dependencies installed**:
```bash
# Get Navigator plugin path
PLUGIN_PATH=$(dirname "$(dirname "$(dirname "$PWD")")")
# Check if venv exists
if [ ! -d "$PLUGIN_PATH/skills/product-design/venv" ]; then
echo "❌ product-design skill not set up"
echo ""
echo "Run setup (30 seconds):"
echo " cd $PLUGIN_PATH/skills/product-design && ./setup.sh"
echo ""
echo "Or use manual workflow (no Python needed)"
exit 1
fi
```
**If setup missing**:
- Show setup instructions
- Offer manual workflow as alternative
- **Do not proceed** with automated Figma workflow
**If setup complete**:
- Continue to Step 1 (Design Analysis)
---
### Step 1: Design Analysis
**Objective**: Extract design patterns from Figma or manual description
#### With Figma MCP (Automated) ✨ SIMPLIFIED
**New Architecture** (v1.1.0+): Python directly connects to Figma MCP - no manual orchestration!
```python
# Python functions now handle MCP connection automatically
from figma_mcp_client import FigmaMCPClient
async with FigmaMCPClient() as client:
# Progressive refinement - fetch only what's needed
metadata = await client.get_metadata()
components = extract_components(metadata)
# Fetch details only for complex components
for comp in components:
if comp['complexity'] == 'high':
comp['detail'] = await client.get_design_context(comp['id'])
# Get design tokens
variables = await client.get_variable_defs()
```
**Workflow** (fully automated):
1. User provides Figma URL
2. Run `python3 functions/design_analyzer.py --figma-url <URL>`
3. Python connects to Figma MCP (http://127.0.0.1:3845/mcp)
4. Fetches metadata → analyzes → fetches details only if needed
5. Returns complete analysis
**Benefits**:
- ✅ No manual MCP tool calls by Claude
- ✅ Progressive refinement (smart token usage)
- ✅ Automatic connection management
- ✅ Built-in error handling
**Requirements**:
- Figma Desktop running
- MCP enabled in preferences
- Python dependencies installed (`./setup.sh`)
#### Manual Workflow (No MCP)
```markdown
**Ask user for design information**:
What is the feature name? [e.g., "Dashboard Redesign"]
Figma link (optional): [figma.com/file/...]
**Design Tokens**:
List new or modified tokens:
- Colors (name: value, e.g., "primary-600: #2563EB")
- Spacing (e.g., "spacing-lg: 24px")
- Typography (e.g., "heading-xl: 36px/600")
- Other (radius, shadow, etc.)
**Components**:
List components in design:
- Component name
- Type (atom, molecule, organism)
- Variants (if any, e.g., "Button: primary/secondary, sm/md/lg")
- Similar to existing component? (name if known)
**Proceed to Step 2** after gathering information
```
#### Run design_analyzer.py
```bash
# Prepare input (MCP or manual JSON)
# MCP: Already have /tmp/figma_metadata.json
# Manual: Create JSON from user input
python3 functions/design_analyzer.py \
--figma-data /tmp/figma_combined.json \
--ui-kit-inventory .agent/design-system/ui-kit-inventory.json \
--output /tmp/analysis_results.json
```
**Analysis Output**:
- New components not in UI kit
- Similar components (reuse opportunities)
- New design tokens
- Breaking changes (if any)
---
### Step 2: Codebase Audit
**Objective**: Compare design vs implementation, detect drift
#### Token Extraction
```bash
python3 functions/token_extractor.py \
--figma-variables /tmp/figma_variables.json \
--existing-tokens .agent/design-system/design-tokens.json \
--output /tmp/token_extraction.json
```
**Output**: DTCG formatted tokens + diff summary
#### Component Mapping
```bash
python3 functions/component_mapper.py \
--figma-components /tmp/analysis_results.json \
--code-connect-map /tmp/figma_code_connect.json \
--project-root . \
--output /tmp/component_mappings.json
```
**Output**: Figma component → code component mappings with confidence scores
#### Design System Audit
```bash
# Combine data for auditor
python3 functions/design_system_auditor.py \
--figma-data /tmp/combined_figma.json \
--code-data /tmp/combined_code.json \
--output /tmp/audit_results.json
```
**Audit Results**:
- Token alignment (in sync, drift, missing, unused)
- Component reuse opportunities
- Tailwind config recommendations
- Priority level (critical, high, medium, low)
---
### Step 3: Implementation Planning
**Objective**: Generate phased implementation task document
#### Generate Task Document
```bash
python3 functions/implementation_planner.py \
--task-id "TASK-{{next_task_number}}" \
--feature-name "{{feature_name}}" \
--analysis-results /tmp/combined_analysis.json \
--review-reference ".agent/design-system/reviews/{{date}}-{{feature-slug}}.md" \
--output .agent/tasks/TASK-{{next_task_number}}-{{feature-slug}}.md
```
**Task Document Includes**:
- Phased implementation (tokens → atoms → molecules → organisms)
- Complexity estimates per phase
- Acceptance criteria checklist
- Files to modify
- Testing strategy
- Rollout plan
#### Create Design Review Report
**Use template**: `templates/design-review-report.md`
**Save to**: `.agent/design-system/reviews/YYYY-MM-DD-{{feature-name}}.md`
**Contents**:
- Design analysis summary
- Token changes (added/modified/removed)
- Component changes (new/extended/breaking)
- Design system impact
- Implementation recommendations
---
### Step 4: Task Assignment
**Objective**: Create task and assign context for implementation
#### Create PM Ticket (if configured)
```markdown
**If PM tool configured** (Linear, GitHub Issues, Jira):
- Create ticket with task summary
- Link to task document and design review
- Assign to frontend developer or team
**If no PM tool**:
- Skip ticket creation
- Task document serves as source of truth
```
#### Update Navigator Documentation
```markdown
**Update files**:
1. `.agent/tasks/TASK-{{number}}-{{feature}}.md` (created in Step 3)
2. `.agent/design-system/reviews/{{date}}-{{feature}}.md` (design review)
3. `.agent/DEVELOPMENT-README.md` (add task to index)
**Use TodoWrite** to track implementation phases
```
---
### Step 5: Implementation Handoff
**Objective**: Present results and get user decision
#### Present Summary
```markdown
✅ Design review complete for {{Feature Name}}
**Generated Documentation**:
- Design review: `.agent/design-system/reviews/{{date}}-{{feature}}.md`
- Implementation plan: `.agent/tasks/TASK-{{number}}-{{feature}}.md`
{{#if pm_configured}}- PM ticket: {{ticket_id}} (status: ready for development){{/if}}
**Summary**:
- Design Tokens: {{new_count}} new, {{modified_count}} modified
- Components: {{new_components}} new, {{extend_components}} to extend
- Estimated Time: {{total_hours}} hours
- Complexity: {{complexity_level}}
{{#if breaking_changes}}- ⚠️ Breaking Changes: {{breaking_count}} component(s){{/if}}
**Next Steps**:
[1] Start implementation now
[2] Review plan first (load task document)
[3] Modify plan before starting
**Recommended**: After implementation, set up visual regression testing:
"Set up visual regression for {{components}}"
This ensures pixel-perfect implementation and prevents future drift (15 min setup).
Reply with choice or "Start implementation"
```
#### User Decision Branches
**If user chooses [1] or says "Start implementation"**:
```markdown
1. Load task document: `Read .agent/tasks/TASK-{{number}}-{{feature}}.md`
2. Load design review: `Read .agent/design-system/reviews/{{date}}-{{feature}}.md`
3. Begin Phase 1 (typically design tokens)
4. Follow autonomous completion protocol when done
5. After completion, suggest: "Set up visual regression for {{components}}" (optional but recommended)
```
**If user chooses [2]**:
```markdown
1. Load and display task document
2. Highlight key phases and acceptance criteria
3. Ask: "Ready to start or need changes?"
```
**If user chooses [3]**:
```markdown
1. Load task document
2. Ask what modifications needed
3. Edit task document
4. Regenerate if major changes
5. Then proceed to implementation
```
---
## Predefined Functions
### functions/design_analyzer.py
**Purpose**: Extract design patterns from Figma MCP data or manual input
**Usage**:
```bash
python3 functions/design_analyzer.py \
--figma-data /path/to/figma_mcp_combined.json \
--ui-kit-inventory .agent/design-system/ui-kit-inventory.json \
--output /tmp/analysis.json
```
**Input Format** (figma_mcp_combined.json):
```json
{
"metadata": { ... }, // get_metadata response
"variables": { ... }, // get_variable_defs response
"code_connect_map": { ... } // get_code_connect_map response (optional)
}
```
**Output**: Component analysis with categorization (atom/molecule/organism) + similarity scores
---
### functions/token_extractor.py
**Purpose**: Convert Figma variables to DTCG format with diff
**Usage**:
```bash
python3 functions/token_extractor.py \
--figma-variables /path/to/figma_variables.json \
--existing-tokens .agent/design-system/design-tokens.json \
--format full \
--output /tmp/tokens.json
```
**Output Formats**:
- `full`: DTCG tokens + diff + summary
- `tokens-only`: Just DTCG tokens
- `diff-only`: Just diff and summary
**DTCG Format** (W3C Design Tokens spec):
```json
{
"color": {
"primary": {
"500": {
"$value": "#3B82F6",
"$type": "color",
"$description": "Primary brand color"
}
}
}
}
```
---
### functions/component_mapper.py
**Purpose**: Map Figma components to codebase components
**Usage**:
```bash
python3 functions/component_mapper.py \
--figma-components /path/to/analysis_results.json \
--code-connect-map /path/to/code_connect.json \
--project-root . \
--output /tmp/mappings.json
```
**Mapping Strategy**:
1. Code Connect first (100% confidence)
2. Fuzzy name matching (70%+ confidence)
3. Unmapped = needs creation
**Output**: Mappings with confidence scores + variant prop mapping
---
### functions/design_system_auditor.py
**Purpose**: Audit design system for drift and reuse opportunities
**Usage**:
```bash
python3 functions/design_system_auditor.py \
--figma-data /path/to/combined_figma.json \
--code-data /path/to/combined_code.json \
--output /tmp/audit.json
```
**Audit Checks**:
- Token alignment (drift detection)
- Component reuse opportunities (similarity >70%)
- Unused tokens (cleanup candidates)
- Priority level assignment
---
### functions/implementation_planner.py
**Purpose**: Generate Navigator task document with phased breakdown
**Usage**:
```bash
python3 functions/implementation_planner.py \
--task-id "TASK-16" \
--feature-name "Dashboard Redesign" \
--analysis-results /path/to/combined_analysis.json \
--review-reference ".agent/design-system/reviews/2025-10-21-dashboard.md" \
--output .agent/tasks/TASK-16-dashboard-redesign.md
```
**Output**: Complete Navigator task document with:
- Phased implementation (atomic design order)
- Complexity estimates (Low/Medium/High)
- Acceptance criteria per phase
- Testing strategy
- Rollout plan
---
## Templates
### templates/design-review-report.md
**When**: Step 3 - Creating design review documentation
**Structure**:
```markdown
# Design Review: {{Feature Name}}
**Date**: {{YYYY-MM-DD}}
**Figma**: [Link]({{figma_url}})
**Reviewer**: Navigator Product Design Skill
## New Design Tokens
[Token changes]
## New Components Required
[Component list with categories]
## Design System Impact
[High/Medium/Low impact analysis]
## Implementation Recommendations
[Phased approach]
```
---
## Design System Documentation Structure
### Initial Setup (First Run)
```bash
mkdir -p .agent/design-system/reviews
# Create initial files
touch .agent/design-system/design-tokens.json
touch .agent/design-system/ui-kit-inventory.json
touch .agent/design-system/component-mapping.json
```
**design-tokens.json** (DTCG format):
```json
{
"color": {},
"spacing": {},
"typography": {},
"radius": {},
"shadow": {}
}
```
**ui-kit-inventory.json**:
```json
{
"components": [
{
"name": "Button",
"path": "src/components/ui/Button.tsx",
"category": "atom",
"variants": ["primary", "secondary", "ghost"],
"figma_link": "..."
}
],
"tokens": {}
}
```
### File Loading Strategy
**Never load**:
- All design review reports (50+ files = 250k+ tokens)
- Full Figma MCP responses (can be 350k+ tokens)
**Always load when skill active**:
- `ui-kit-inventory.json` (~3k tokens)
- `design-tokens.json` (~2k tokens)
- Specific design review for current task (~5k tokens)
**Total**: ~10k tokens vs 150k+ (93% reduction)
---
## Figma MCP Integration
### MCP Server Detection
**On skill invocation**:
1. Check for Figma MCP tools availability
2. Detect local vs remote server
3. Adjust workflow based on capabilities
**Local Server** (Recommended):
- URL: `http://127.0.0.1:3845/mcp`
- Tools: All (metadata, variables, code_connect, design_context)
- Requires: Figma Desktop app running
**Remote Server** (Fallback):
- URL: `https://mcp.figma.com/mcp`
- Tools: Limited (no code_connect, requires explicit URLs)
- Requires: Internet connection, explicit Figma links
### Handling Token Limits
**Problem**: Large screens return >350k tokens (exceeds default 25k limit)
**Solution**:
```markdown
1. Use `get_metadata` first (sparse XML, ~5k tokens)
2. Parse metadata to identify component node IDs
3. Fetch components individually via `get_design_context`
4. Aggregate results from multiple small calls
**Environment Variable** (recommended):
export MAX_MCP_OUTPUT_TOKENS=100000
```
### MCP Tool Usage
**get_metadata**: Always first for large designs
- Returns sparse XML with node IDs, types, names
- Low token cost (~5-10k)
- Use to plan component extraction strategy
**get_variable_defs**: Extract all design tokens
- One call gets all variables
- Moderate token cost (~10-20k)
- Critical for token extraction
**get_code_connect_map**: Get component mappings
- Requires Figma Enterprise plan
- Returns node_id → code_path mappings
- Highest confidence mappings
**get_design_context**: Extract component code
- Use per-component (NOT full screen)
- Can generate React/Vue/HTML via prompting
- Highest token cost - use sparingly
---
## Tailwind CSS Integration
### Design Tokens → Tailwind @theme
**Style Dictionary Pipeline**:
```bash
# 1. Tokens extracted to design-tokens.json (DTCG format)
# 2. Run Style Dictionary build
npx style-dictionary build
# 3. Generates tailwind-tokens.css
# @theme {
# --color-primary-500: #3B82F6;
# --spacing-md: 16px;
# }
# 4. Tailwind auto-generates utilities
# .bg-primary-500, .p-md, etc.
```
### Figma Auto Layout → Tailwind Classes
**Translation Rules** (apply during code generation):
```
Direction:
Horizontal → flex-row
Vertical → flex-col
Spacing:
Gap → gap-{token}
Padding → p-{token}, px-{token}, py-{token}
Alignment:
Start → items-start, justify-start
Center → items-center, justify-center
Space Between → justify-between
Sizing:
Hug → w-auto / h-auto
Fill → flex-1
Fixed → w-{value} / h-{value}
```
---
## Token Optimization
### Navigator Principles
**Load on demand**:
- Design review for current task only
- UI kit inventory (always needed)
- Design tokens (always needed)
**Use Task agent for codebase searches**:
- Finding all component files (60-80% token savings)
- Searching for token usage in Tailwind config
- Analyzing component variant patterns
**Compact after completion**:
- Clear context after design review
- Preserve task document in marker
- Clean slate for implementation
---
## Troubleshooting
### "Figma MCP tool not found"
**Issue**: MCP server not available
**Solutions**:
1. Check Figma Desktop app is running (for local server)
2. Verify MCP server added: `claude mcp add --transport http figma-desktop http://127.0.0.1:3845/mcp`
3. Fall back to manual workflow (still provides value)
### "Token limit exceeded"
**Issue**: `get_design_context` response too large
**Solutions**:
1. Use `get_metadata` first, then fetch components individually
2. Set `MAX_MCP_OUTPUT_TOKENS=100000`
3. Break design into smaller selections in Figma
### "No components found in codebase"
**Issue**: `component_mapper.py` finds no matches
**Solutions**:
1. Check `--project-root` points to correct directory
2. Verify component file extensions (tsx, jsx, vue)
3. Check components aren't in excluded directories (node_modules)
### "Design tokens not in DTCG format"
**Issue**: Existing tokens use legacy format
**Solutions**:
1. Run `token_extractor.py` with `--format tokens-only` to convert
2. Backup existing tokens first
3. Update Style Dictionary config to read DTCG format
---
## Success Metrics
### Efficiency Gains
**Before**: 6-10 hours per design handoff
**After**: 15-20 minutes
**Savings**: 95% time reduction
### Quality Metrics
- Design system drift detected automatically
- 100% token consistency via automated sync
- Component reuse rate tracked
- Implementation accuracy via acceptance criteria
---
## Example Usage
```
User: "Review the dashboard redesign from Figma: https://figma.com/file/..."
Navigator:
1. Checks for Figma MCP availability
2. Extracts metadata, variables, code_connect_map
3. Runs design_analyzer.py → finds 3 new components, 12 new tokens
4. Runs token_extractor.py → generates DTCG tokens, finds 5 drift issues
5. Runs component_mapper.py → maps 2 components, 1 new needed
6. Runs design_system_auditor.py → priority: HIGH (drift detected)
7. Runs implementation_planner.py → generates TASK-17 with 3 phases
8. Creates design review report
9. Presents summary with [Start/Review/Modify] options
User: "Start implementation"
Navigator:
1. Loads TASK-17 document
2. Begins Phase 1: Design Tokens
3. Updates design-tokens.json with 12 new tokens
4. Runs Style Dictionary build
5. Updates Tailwind config
6. Commits changes
7. Moves to Phase 2: StatBadge component
8. ... continues through all phases
9. Autonomous completion when done
```
---
**Last Updated**: 2025-10-21
**Navigator Version**: 3.2.0 (target)
**Skill Version**: 1.0.0
This skill automates design review, token extraction, component mapping, and implementation planning to shrink design handoff time from hours to minutes. It connects directly to Figma via the MCP protocol or accepts manual design input, then generates analysis, a phased implementation plan, and task artifacts ready for development. Auto-invokes when users mention design review, Figma mockups, or design handoff requests.
The skill inspects Figma metadata, variables, and component structures via a local MCP connection or manual JSON input and extracts design tokens, component definitions, and similarity scores. It runs a codebase audit to detect drift, maps Figma components to code components (with confidence levels), and produces a phased task document and design-review report. Outputs include DTCG-formatted tokens, component mappings, an audit summary, and a Navigator-style implementation plan ready for PM or developer use.
What do I need to run the automated workflow?
Figma Desktop running with MCP enabled, Python dependencies installed via the setup script, and the project structure including .agent/design-system present.
Can I use this without Figma MCP?
Yes. Provide manual design inputs or a JSON export describing tokens and components; the skill supports a manual workflow with the same analysis and planning outputs.
How accurate are component mappings?
Mappings use code-connect data first (100% confidence when available), then fuzzy name matching; each mapping includes a confidence score and unmapped items are flagged for creation.