Hi Figma Team,
While working across multiple design systems and cleaning older project files, I’ve noticed a recurring friction point in the Color Styles panel: Figma does not support searching color styles by their hex values.
This small limitation creates a surprisingly large productivity gap for designers and teams.
The Core Issue
Currently, the Color Styles search recognizes only the style name, not its underlying hex code.
But in real workflows, hex values are often the most direct, reliable reference point — especially when working across old files, new token systems, or unlinked fills.
Evidences
Why This Matters
Here are a few common scenarios where hex-based search would significantly improve workflow efficiency:
1. Faster Updating & Mapping Colors
When aligning older files with a new design system, designers often copy a hex from the canvas and expect the matching style to appear in search — but it doesn’t.
2. Easier Reviewing of Junior Designers’ Files
Juniors sometimes use direct hex fills instead of linked styles.
Searching by hex would instantly expose the correct style and improve consistency.
3. Smoother Migration Between Libraries
When refining a design system or renaming tokens, hex search would make mapping old → new styles far faster.
4. Stronger Design System Adoption
Any friction in finding the right style increases the chances of inconsistent usage.
Hex search reduces guesswork and encourages proper library practices.
The Proposed Solution
A simple enhancement would solve all of the above:
Enable color style search by hex code
Support inputs such as:
-
#ffffff -
ffffff -
even partial matches like
fff
Since each style already contains a hex value, this could integrate naturally into the existing search logic.
Why This Small Feature Has a Big Impact
Adding hex-based search would improve:
-
daily workflow speed
-
accuracy in large files
-
onboarding for junior designers
-
design system maintenance
-
consistency across teams
It’s a minor UI enhancement with major real-world benefits.
Final Note
As designers, we often notice the small friction points that compound over time. This is one of those cases.
A simple hex search option would make Figma more intuitive and significantly smoother for anyone managing, auditing, or evolving design systems.
Thanks for considering this improvement!