Salesforce has officially launched the next evolution of its design framework—Lightning Design System 2
(SLDS 2)—marking a transformative step forward in how users experience, customize, and build on the Salesforce Platform. With SLDS 2, Salesforce is redefining the standards for consistency, accessibility, and flexibility in user interface design.
This release is not just a visual refresh; it’s a foundational shift that empowers developers, admins, and designers to create more cohesive, brand-aligned, and user-friendly experiences.
A Modular and Flexible Design Architecture
At the core of SLDS 2 is a completely reimagined CSS architecture. By decoupling structure and style, the system now provides greater flexibility and modularity. Styling is now driven by a new mechanism—global styling hooks. These are CSS custom properties that allow for dynamic customization of UI elements without touching the core structure of the components.
This new architecture makes it easier than ever to implement themes, modify colors and fonts, and apply consistent spacing across a Salesforce app. The result is faster development cycles, simpler maintenance, and a better user experience. Global styling hooks let you easily customize component styles such as color, spacing, fonts, and borders to match your brand. They use CSS custom properties (variables), which are ideal for working with Lightning Web Components (LWC) and the Shadow DOM. These hooks are the modern version of SLDS 1 design tokens, offering a more flexible way to apply and scale design updates. Instead of using fixed values, styling hooks allow you to define reusable styles, with fallback values if needed. All SLDS styling hooks use the --slds namespace.
Introducing the Salesforce Cosmos Theme
SLDS 2 debuts with a new visual identity: the Salesforce Cosmos theme. Featuring rounded elements, a refined color palette, and enhanced typography, Cosmos brings a modern aesthetic to the Salesforce interface. It also introduces adaptive display densities—"Comfy" and "Compact"—allowing users to tailor the interface based on their preferences or use cases.
Cosmos isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about clarity, focus, and usability. The updated layout improves readability, enhances focus through better visual hierarchy, and reduces visual noise, making day-to-day interactions more efficient.
Enhanced Theming and Branding Capabilities
One of the most impactful additions in SLDS 2 is the enhanced theming engine. Admins can now apply custom themes using an upgraded interface in Setup, enabling deeper brand alignment without the need for code. With new accent color options and greater control over key visual elements, organizations can reflect their brand identity more precisely throughout the Salesforce experience.
This level of customization empowers businesses to present a cohesive digital experience to users, partners, and customers alike.
Streamlined Collaboration Through Design Tools
For design teams, SLDS 2 brings a powerful upgrade in the form of an improved Figma library. The component structures and styling hooks in Figma now map directly to those in development, allowing for a seamless handoff between design and engineering. This alignment ensures that what’s designed is exactly what gets built—reducing rework and improving time-to-market.
The consistent visual language across tools reinforces brand standards and encourages better cross-functional collaboration.
Tools for a Smooth Transition
Transitioning from SLDS 1 to SLDS 2 has been designed to be straightforward and minimally disruptive. A suite of developer tools, including a built-in SLDS Validator, helps identify areas in need of updates and ensures that components align with the new framework.
Admins and developers can test the new system in sandbox environments, gradually implement changes, and confidently roll out the new theme to production when ready.
Future-Ready by Design
SLDS 2 lays a strong foundation for the future of Salesforce UI. With built-in support for dark mode, enhanced accessibility standards, and the flexibility to support emerging technologies like AI-driven interfaces, SLDS 2 ensures that Salesforce remains a cutting-edge platform capable of adapting to evolving user needs.
By adopting Lightning Design System 2, organizations not only benefit from a modernized UI today but also prepare their environments for tomorrow’s innovations.
Conclusion
Lightning Design System 2 is more than just a design update—it is a strategic re-architecture aimed at delivering unmatched flexibility, consistency, and user empowerment. Whether you’re a developer seeking better customization, an admin managing user experience, or a designer building intuitive interfaces, SLDS 2 opens the door to a new standard of excellence on the Salesforce platform.
Now is the time to explore, adopt, and innovate with Lightning Design System 2.
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