Our design system in Figma often involves iterative refinement, leading to the identification of redundant variables (colors, etc.). These unnecessary variables are often duplicates of existing ones, linked to the same foundational variable library. To improve the organization and maintainability of our design system, we require a more efficient way to remove these redundant variables.

Currently, deleting a variable that is in use by multiple objects and elements within our designs is a cumbersome and potentially error-prone process. We propose a new feature: when a user attempts to delete a variable, Figma should present a prompt asking which existing variable they would like to substitute for the one being deleted.

This functionality would allow designers to seamlessly replace the usage of the obsolete variable with a chosen, equivalent variable across all instances where it is currently applied. This would significantly streamline the process of cleaning up our variable library, ensuring consistency and reducing the risk of broken links or visual discrepancies in our designs. By providing a direct substitution option, Figma can empower design system users to confidently remove unnecessary variables while maintaining the integrity of their work.