A sneak peek at Schema 2022 | Figma Blog

Schema 2022 is Figma’s annual conference focused specifically on design systems rather than design in general. The event combines in-person gatherings in New York, London, and Tokyo with a virtual livestream, bringing together designers, developers, and advocates to discuss practical challenges, emerging standards, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

A Global Design Systems Conference

• Schema 2022 includes:
  • In-person events in New York, London, and Tokyo
  • A virtual event open to anyone unable to attend in person
  • Community meetups in each host city
• Each city features a distinct lineup of speakers representing different areas of design expertise.
• The conference is invite-only, but interested attendees can apply online.
• Talks were later made available through DesignSystems.com.

A More Focused Conference Than Config

• Whereas Figma’s Config conference addresses design broadly, Schema concentrates on the specialized field of design systems.
• Its narrower focus allows speakers and attendees to explore the field’s specific opportunities and challenges in greater depth.
• Organizers aim to balance innovative content with introductory material for people who are still new to design systems.

Collaboration Between Designers and Developers

• Design systems require a mix of design, engineering, and organizational skills.
• Schema is intended to encourage “creative cross-pollination” between designers and developers.
• Designers can share ideas for plugins, extensions, and integrations.
• Developers can demonstrate tools and systems they are building.
• The event highlights how design systems create a shared language between the two disciplines.

Design Tokens and Emerging Standards

• The W3C Design Tokens Community Group is highlighted as an important part of the program.
• Design tokens provide a technology-agnostic way to scale visual design across tools, devices, and platforms.
• The group is working toward standards that allow products and design tools to share design-system styles consistently.
• Figma’s developer advocates are especially interested in how the group addresses accessibility and internationalization early in the standards process.

Schema 2022 presents design systems as both a specialized practice and a meeting point for design and software engineering. Its recommendation is implicit: people working with design systems should use the event and its talks to learn from adjacent disciplines, follow developing standards such as design tokens, and connect with the broader community.