Tailwind Design System
Build scalable design systems with Tailwind CSS v4 and design tokens
What You Can Do
You can architect complete design systems leveraging Tailwind v4's CSS-first approach, including semantic color tokens, component variants, responsive patterns, and native dark mode. This skill helps you build reusable component libraries with proper theming infrastructure, accessibility standards, and migration strategies from Tailwind v3 to v4.
Features
Define design tokens directly in CSS using @theme instead of config files
Create semantic color tokens, spacing scales, and typography systems with OKLCH color space
Build flexible, composable UI components with multiple states and responsive breakpoints
Set up native CSS dark mode with @custom-variant and proper inheritance
Structure components with semantic HTML, ARIA attributes, and focus management
Define @keyframes and @starting-style for smooth entry animations and transitions
Convert existing v3 projects to v4 syntax with configuration patterns and best practices
Create mobile-first layouts with container queries and flexible grid/flexbox systems
Example Output
Example 1: Color Token System
@theme {
--color-primary: oklch(50% 0.2 240);
--color-primary-hover: oklch(45% 0.22 240);
--color-surface: oklch(98% 0.01 0);
}
Example 2: Component Button Variants
<!-- Primary button -->
<button class="px-4 py-2 rounded-lg bg-primary text-white hover:bg-primary-hover transition-colors">
Click me
</button>
<!-- Secondary variant -->
<button class="px-4 py-2 rounded-lg border-2 border-primary text-primary hover:bg-primary/10">
Cancel
</button>
Example 3: Dark Mode with Semantic Tokens
@custom-variant dark (&:where(.dark, .dark *));
@theme {
--color-text: oklch(20% 0 0);
}
@dark {
--color-text: oklch(95% 0 0);
}
What's Included
- SKILL.md: Complete Tailwind v4 design system reference with key changes from v3
- CSS-first configuration template: Starter @theme block with semantic tokens and color scales
- Component library checklist: Responsive components, variants, states, and accessibility requirements
- Design token framework: Color, spacing, typography, and animation token definitions
- Dark mode setup guide: Implementation patterns for CSS-native dark mode with fallbacks
- Migration workflow: Step-by-step conversion from Tailwind v3 config to v4 CSS approach
Who It's For
- UI/UX Designers — Build design systems that align technical implementation with design intent
- Frontend Engineers — Create reusable component libraries and maintain consistent styling patterns
- Design System Leads — Architect token systems and standardize design across teams
- Product Teams — Establish scalable design infrastructure that grows with your product
- Full-stack Developers — Implement responsive, accessible components with modern CSS features
Best For
- Creating component libraries from scratch with consistent patterns
- Implementing design tokens and semantic theming systems
- Migrating from Tailwind v3 to v4 with minimal breaking changes
- Building responsive, accessible UI systems with dark mode support
- Standardizing spacing, color, typography, and animation across codebases
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