airtable
A quick guide to Automated Design Tokens/Variables Management in Airtable

Step 1: Create the Airtable database
Step 2: Create a list of values.
Step 3: Create a table for Variables/Tokens
Step: 4: Create a table for Components
Step 5: Connecting components + variables/tokens
Step 6: Set up automations
Below, I'll explore each step.
Step 1: Open the Airtable database.
Go to airtable.com, register or sign in and create your database.
Step: 2: Create your first table
For example, a table with Light values.
Add names
Add values
️ If you have a JSON file with your design tokens, you can use online converters or Python to translate JSON to CSV, and then you don't have to add all the values manually.
️ You can also translate Figma Variables to .json with this plugin (click here), but it adds a lot of columns (for each mode, value), and it takes you a lot of time to modify the data. So it is better to add the values and then connect the tables manually.
Create another table with Dark values
Add names
Add values
Step: 3: Create a table for Variables/Tokens
This step is a bit more complex.
Name of the variable
Applied
I add this column, so I can quickly filter and see where is the token/variable applied. I suggest you color-code all of the options.
Options for background, border, text, icon, space, size, radius, shadow
Value
Click Edit field
Choose the Link to another record
Choose a table to link from (for example table with Light values)
Keep "Allow linking to multiple records."
You can also add a description so everyone knows how to use it
After connecting the tables, you can click the plus button and type the variable's name.
You will see that chosen variable is automatically added to the table where you have your values.
You can repeat the process for "Dark values."
Component
Just like we connected the values + variables, we can do this for Components.
Let's add another table, "Components."
Step: 4: Create a table for Components
First column: Make a list of all the components
Second column: Figma link
Third column: Design status
Fourth column: Web status
Fifth column:: Mobile status (or divide iOS and Android)
Sixth column: An assigned person
Seventh column: Variables (this one will be added automatically)
Step 5: Connecting components + variables/tokens
Now go back to the "Variables table" and add another column called "Component."
Click Edit field.
Choose the Link to another record
Choose a "Component" table to link from
Keep "Allow linking to multiple records."
Click on the plus button inside of the field and choose the component (search or browse)
Each variable is automatically added to the "Component" table when you choose a component. This allows you to have a comprehensive overview.
Step 6: Set up automations
You can automate Slack messages for each updated field/record.
Go to the Automation tab.
Choose trigger "When record updated"
Choose table
Second step -> choose action -> Send slack message
Add or choose a Slack account
Choose channel
Customize the message
One quick tip -> add cc/@responsible person
Choose bot name
Click on "Generate preview"
Test the automation
Voila, you are done. 🙌
Congrats, your workflow is way more optimized now.
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Additional Automation Ideas:
* Jira issue creation based on Airtable updates.
* Scheduled updates and reminders.
* Google Calendar integration for events based on specific triggers.
* Twilio for instant SMS notifications.
* GitHub repository connection.
* Deadline approaching emails.
