What feature should a UX designer recommend for changing colors in a prototype developed with Lightning components?

Styling hooks are the recommended feature for a UX designer working with prototypes developed using Lightning components. They allow designers to apply custom styles without having to directly modify the underlying Salesforce Lightning Design System (SLDS) styles. By utilizing styling hooks, designers can seamlessly integrate their own color schemes or branding elements into the Lightning components while maintaining compliance with system functionality and updates.

This approach not only provides flexibility to customize the appearance but also ensures that design changes are manageable and less prone to conflicts. Styling hooks work by giving developers access to predefined variables that can be overridden, hence facilitating a more streamlined and efficient design process that adheres to best practices in styling Lightning components.