Sketch 9 brings native LLM-assisted symbols and semantic dark tokens

Design · 4 min read

Sketch 9 introduces a native LLM assistant that helps create symbols from rough frames and generate responsive constraints for different breakpoints. Designers can describe desired behaviors (“collapsible footer with priority CTAs”) and the assistant produces a symbol with auto-layout rules and suggested overrides.

The semantic tokens feature shifts tokens from purely color-based to intent-based labels such as surface-primary, emphasis-strong, and state-success. These tokens include automatic transformations for dark mode, contrast adjustments, and motion specs, which reduces the manual burden when creating theme variants.

Plugin developers will be able to hook into the new assistant APIs and token schema, enabling tools that automatically audit token usage or propose system consolidation. Sketch says the changes aim to reduce duplicate components and make developer exports more predictable.