AI + Design Systems in 2026: The Workflow I Actually Use
In this video, I walk through how I use AI to support a real design system in 2026. This is not about AI replacing design work. It's about where AI actually fits in day-to-day design system workflows.
I cover the current state of the AI and design systems ecosystem, what is worth paying attention to, and what is mostly noise. Then I show the workflows I use to support audits, documentation, governance, and quality checks so the system stays maintainable as it scales.
If you work with tokens, components, or multi-brand systems, this should give you a clear, practical view of how AI can support the work without getting in the way.
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🔗 VIDEOS TO WATCH
Build a Design System: • Build a Design System - Full Course
Complex Design System Setup: • Design System & Figma Variable Set Up - Fu...
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0:00 An Introduction
1:20 What can AI not do?
2:20 Current tooling limitations
4:08 Building design tokens with AI?
5:02 Build designs with AI using your design system
5:15 Figma Make Limitations
7:14 Using AI in my current workflow
7:30 Figma MCP Setup with Cursor
8:38 Design System Consistency
9:11 Design Token Logistics
10:54 Building Cursor rule for our Figma Variables
13:27 Building Cursor command
18:36 Prepping Figma Component
19:47 Testing our AI Workflow
21:12 Generating Design System Documentations
22:43 Building Cursor Rule for our Docs
25:34 Building Cursor Command for our Docs
29:47 Testing our Workflow
31:02 Outro