In just two years, Sanofi's design system 'Elements' evolved from a modest initiative into a global ecosystem powering every digital product. All components are now in active use, adoption has spread across the organization, and launch times have been cut in half. More than a toolkit, the system functions as a connected platform where people, processes, and technology converge. By aligning design operations, foundations, shared patterns, and community practices, it streamlines workflows and elevates design impact. Today, Sanofi's design system is trusted across the company, accelerating delivery, raising quality, and enabling innovation at scale.

Sanofi's governance strategy has been the foundation of its transformation. Operating in a uniquely complex, multi-brand and global environment, governance was designed not just for control but for collaboration and scale.

Key elements include:

• Token-based architecture: Supporting brand individuality while ensuring accessibility and alignment to shared standards.
• Embedded governance: Integrated into design tools and searchable knowledge bases to guide contributions and ensure transparency.
• Community ownership: A federated model supported by a core team, contributors, and embedded champions, shifting the posture from mandates to co-creation.
• Automation for scale: Integrated testing, contribution workflows, and scripted releases reduce friction and free the team to focus on value.
• Cultural shift: Through continuous discovery, co-creation, and direct engagement, governance became woven into daily rituals, onboarding, and communication.

This approach transformed governance from a parallel process into a trusted cultural framework — scalable, transparent, and user-centered.

Sanofi's governance model has delivered measurable outcomes at scale. Contribution clarity expanded the contributor base eightfold in just months. Adoption accelerated, with new teams able to onboard independently and all components now actively used. Launch times were cut in half, with multiple monthly releases aligned to user needs. Beyond speed, governance fostered trust: users praised the system as responsive, easy to use, and collaborative. What began as a little-used initiative is now a strategic enabler of digital transformation. Governance not only ensured consistency and accessibility — it unlocked collective potential, turning design into a driver of innovation and business impact.