Case Study 03

Case Study 03

Empowering the apparel industry with a data-driven tool to enhance the visibility and accuracy of sustainable metrics.

Empowering the apparel industry with a data-driven tool to enhance the visibility and accuracy of sustainable metrics.

Industry

Industry

B2B (Sustainability)

B2B (Sustainability)

Company

Company

Higg Index

Higg Index

Timeline

Timeline

6 Weeks

6 Weeks

Highlights

My Deliverables

Mind Mapping

Designing for the web

Creative direction

Personas and Roles

User flow & Task flow

Wireframes & Final Designs

Tools Used

Figma, Sketch, Docs, Paper & pen

My Team

Shobhna: UX Associate

Harjeet Singh: CEO

Jasmine Kaur: QA Analyst


UX Team and rest of the Team at Millipixels!

Context

Context

The Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC), founded in 2009 by Patagonia and Walmart, aims to address environmental challenges in apparel, footwear & textiles.


It developed the Higg Index, a tool for measuring environmental and social impacts across the industry.


In 2019, Higg Co. was formed as a public-benefit technology company to manage the Higg Index & provide sustainability solutions.

The Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC), founded in 2009 by Patagonia and Walmart, aims to address environmental challenges in apparel, footwear & textiles.


It developed the Higg Index, a tool for measuring environmental and social impacts across the industry.


In 2019, Higg Co. was formed as a public-benefit technology company to manage the Higg Index & provide sustainability solutions.

2009

Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) was founded

2011

Higg Index was developed

2012

First impact assessment was created

2019

Higg Co. was founded

2021

New Tools started being developed

2023

Relaunched as Wordly

Vision of SAC

The vision of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition is to create a digital platform where brands, retailers and manufacturers can collaborate to enhance their sustainability practices, leverage cutting-edge technology, and raise consumer awareness for collective transformation.

Goals of SAC

Address inefficiencies within the apparel, footwear & textile sectors


  • Improve sustainability performance by identifying the areas that need improvement


  • Meet the increasing demand for environmental and social transparency from consumers


  • Through collective action and data-driven insights, the industry aims to pave the way toward a more sustainable and responsible future

Goals of SAC

Goals of SAC

Address inefficiencies within the apparel, footwear & textile sectors

Through collective action and data-driven insights, the industry aims to pave the way toward a more sustainable and responsible future

Improve sustainability performance by identifying the areas that need improvement

Meet the increasing demand for environmental and deliver social transparency to consumers

What is Higg Index?

What is Higg Index?

A collection of tools designed to assist brands, retailers & facilities of all sizes in various stages of their sustainability efforts. These tools accurately assess the sustainability performance of companies or products, offering a comprehensive view that enables meaningful enhancements in areas such as:


  • Ensuring the welfare of factory workers

  • Supporting local communities

  • Safeguarding the environment

Higg Product Tools

Higg Index

Higg BRM

Higg FEM Manager

Higg FEM

Higg FSLM

Higg Contributor

Higg MSI

Higg PM

Higg Facility Tools

Higg Brand & Retail Tools

Higg Contributor

In today's rapidly evolving apparel industry, there is a growing demand for comprehensive sustainability metrics and tools to address environmental and social impacts. However, the lack of standardized data collection and quality assurance processes poses significant challenges for organizations seeking to assess and improve their sustainability performance. Without reliable and transparent information, stakeholders struggle to make informed decisions regarding materials, manufacturing processes and overall supply chain management.

Problem statement

Problem statement

Why Higg Contributor is needed?

Why Higg Contributor is needed?

Lack of Standardized and Reliable Data

Lack of Standardized and Reliable Data

The apparel industry faces challenges due to the absence of standardized data collection and quality assurance processes, resulting in unreliable sustainability metrics.

The apparel industry faces challenges due to the absence of standardized data collection and quality assurance processes, resulting in unreliable sustainability metrics.

Insufficient Tools and Data Quality

Insufficient Tools and Data Quality

Stakeholders struggle to make informed decisions regarding materials, manufacturing, and supply chain management due to non-transparent and inconsistent information.

Stakeholders struggle to make informed decisions regarding materials, manufacturing, and supply chain management due to non-transparent and inconsistent information.

Informed Decision-Making Difficulties

Informed Decision-Making Difficulties

Stakeholders struggle to make informed decisions regarding materials, manufacturing, and supply chain management due to non-transparent and inconsistent information.

Stakeholders struggle to make informed decisions regarding materials, manufacturing, and supply chain management due to non-transparent and inconsistent information.

Goals

What is expected of Higg Contributor to resolve?

Contributors

(Provide Multiple Industry Data)

Higg Contributor

(Collects Industry Data)

Other Higg Product Tools

Provide Benchmark Data

Establishing Reliable and Standardized Data Collection

Implement a robust system with stringent review processes to ensure high-quality, reliable data, providing comprehensive industry-specific insights.

Enhancing Decision-Making for Stakeholders

Develop platforms for members and non-members to contribute data, integrating it into Higg Product Tools for transparent, actionable insights on materials, manufacturing, and supply chain management.

Driving Industry-Wide Sustainability Progress

Continuously refine the Higg database to set new industry standards for sustainability measurement, enhancing tool capabilities and establishing leadership in the industry.

Promoting Inclusivity and Broad Participation

Encourage broad participation by creating an inclusive system that allows diverse stakeholders to contribute and benefit from the aggregated data.

Ensuring Continuous Improvement

Regularly update data collection protocols and methodologies to maintain the relevance and accuracy of sustainability metrics and tools, ensuring Higg tools stay at the forefront of the industry.

User Personas & Roles

Sarah Thompson

Age

25

Occupation

Sustainability Analyst

Background

Sarah works as a sustainability analyst for a global fashion brand, where her primary focus is on assessing and improving the environmental and social impact of their supply chain. She holds a degree in environmental science and has a passion for sustainability, driving her career choices and personal interests.

Needs

  • Sarah requires access to introductory materials on the Higg MSI to understand its purpose, methodology, and potential benefits.


  • She needs access to industry data contributions within the Higg MSI platform to gather insights into sustainability trends, benchmarks, and best practices.


  • She seeks a user-friendly interface that enables efficient navigation and easy access to relevant information within the Higg MSI platform.

Wants

  • Sarah wants to stay updated on industry standards and practices related to sustainability, particularly in the fashion industry.


  • She aims to access relevant industry data and insights to inform her analysis and decision-making within her role.


  • Sarah is interested in tracking the progress of sustainability initiatives within the fashion industry to understand trends and benchmarks.

Challenges

  • Sarah requires access to introductory materials on the Higg MSI to understand its purpose, methodology, and potential benefits.


  • She needs access to industry data contributions within the Higg MSI platform to gather insights into sustainability trends, benchmarks, and best practices.


  • She seeks a user-friendly interface that enables efficient navigation and easy access to relevant information within the Higg MSI platform.

Sarah Thompson

Age

25

Occupation

Sustainability Analyst

Background

Sarah works as a sustainability analyst for a global fashion brand, where her primary focus is on assessing and improving the environmental and social impact of their supply chain. She holds a degree in environmental science and has a passion for sustainability, driving her career choices and personal interests.

Needs

  • Sarah requires access to introductory materials on the Higg MSI to understand its purpose, methodology, and potential benefits.


  • She needs access to industry data contributions within the Higg MSI platform to gather insights into sustainability trends, benchmarks, and best practices.


  • She seeks a user-friendly interface that enables efficient navigation and easy access to relevant information within the Higg MSI platform.

Wants

  • Sarah wants to stay updated on industry standards and practices related to sustainability, particularly in the fashion industry.


  • She aims to access relevant industry data and insights to inform her analysis and decision-making within her role.


  • Sarah is interested in tracking the progress of sustainability initiatives within the fashion industry to understand trends and benchmarks.

Challenges

  • Sarah requires access to introductory materials on the Higg MSI to understand its purpose, methodology, and potential benefits.


  • She needs access to industry data contributions within the Higg MSI platform to gather insights into sustainability trends, benchmarks, and best practices.


  • She seeks a user-friendly interface that enables efficient navigation and easy access to relevant information within the Higg MSI platform.

Sarah Thompson

Age

25

Occupation

Sustainability Analyst

Background

Sarah works as a sustainability analyst for a global fashion brand, where her primary focus is on assessing and improving the environmental and social impact of their supply chain. She holds a degree in environmental science and has a passion for sustainability, driving her career choices and personal interests.

Needs

  • Sarah requires access to introductory materials on the Higg MSI to understand its purpose, methodology, and potential benefits.


  • She needs access to industry data contributions within the Higg MSI platform to gather insights into sustainability trends, benchmarks, and best practices.


  • She seeks a user-friendly interface that enables efficient navigation and easy access to relevant information within the Higg MSI platform.

Wants

  • Sarah wants to stay updated on industry standards and practices related to sustainability, particularly in the fashion industry.


  • She aims to access relevant industry data and insights to inform her analysis and decision-making within her role.


  • Sarah is interested in tracking the progress of sustainability initiatives within the fashion industry to understand trends and benchmarks.

Challenges

  • Sarah requires access to introductory materials on the Higg MSI to understand its purpose, methodology, and potential benefits.


  • She needs access to industry data contributions within the Higg MSI platform to gather insights into sustainability trends, benchmarks, and best practices.


  • She seeks a user-friendly interface that enables efficient navigation and easy access to relevant information within the Higg MSI platform.

User-flow

Task-flow

Contributor

Dashboard

Login to Higg Contributor

Full- Submission

Detailed submission form

Submission Information

User can import files

Higg Taxonomy

Select the placement for the submission fit and where it should show up in Higg MSI

Type of submission

Material category

Base- material

Production phase

Production Data

User has to provide input for all the environmental impact of a product during the production life-cycle.

Data Quality

The degree to which the dataset reflects the specific conditions of the system being considered the age of the data & including background datasets

Submission complete

Process completion message and information about the next process, what to expect once the submission request is sent to the Higg Database.

LCIA Submission

Quick life-cycle impact assessment form requires input about the type of impact and amount of impact.

Gate Keeper

View submission requests

Here the gate-keeper can view all submissions, types of submissions and take action to accept, reject & archive accordingly.

Gate-keeper Dashboard

Login to Higg Contributor Admin

Expand details to review

The information is collapsed by default with subject & description when user can expand to review the provided details in length

Full- Submission

Detailed submission form

Submission Information

User can import files

Higg Taxonomy

Select the placement for the submission fit and where it should show up in Higg MSI

Type of submission

Material category

Base- material

Production phase

Production Data

User has to provide input for all the environmental impact of a product during the production life-cycle.

Data Quality

The degree to which the dataset reflects the specific conditions of the system being considered the age of the data & including background datasets

Submission complete

Process completion message and information about the next process, what to expect once the submission request is sent to the Higg Database.

LCIA Submission

Quick life-cycle impact assessment form requires input about the type of impact and amount of impact.

Task 1

Task 2

Final designs and iterations

Show Labels

Default dashboard tab selection

Number of all the user’s submissions along with the status

Information material for the new users about the tool and how to use it

Full Submission is lenghthy

Number of all the industry submissions along with the type.

LCIA is a quick form submission

User Dashboard

The dashboard view is divided into three parts, it has an introductory context to the new tool and user guide, all the user submissions and their progress and all the industry level submissions added to the Higg Contribution database.

Clear CTA for the user to start LCIA or Full submissions

Since, user submission information is more important that section should be prioritised than the others and previous colour theme could be improved

Progress bar to track the form progress

Information already added to save user’s efforts

User can save the form progress at anytime & continue later

Full- Submission Form

Step 1- Submission Information

Progress bar helps users to anticipate the number of steps they have to complete.

Progress bar helps users to anticipate the number of steps they have to complete.

Since, it’s a long form submission saving the progress helps the user to continue where they left

Hint text could have helped the user to recognise what information to add in the input fields.

This step helps the user to place the new information in the respective category & sub-category

Full- Submission Form

Step 2- Higg Taxonomy

Making sure that guidance is easy to find whenever new users need help, no matter what they're doing (like having helpful tooltips).

Ample spacing between the touch targets to accurately select them. The user can review and select the whole sequence of the placement for their information.

Every section has ‘add new’ action if there is a new entry and no existing place could be a better fit. This way, the user does not feel restricted when providing new information.

Label/ field contextual details & action to add additional information through comments

Single step is divided into sub-steps to minimise the cognitive load

Full- Submission Form

Step 3 - Product Data

Made sure that the user has guidance and context that is easy to find whenever new users need help.

Bigger step is divided into smaller sub-steps to minimise the cognitive load for the user.

Through comments, users can add new information, this way it provides more flexibility to users and feed accurate information.

An indicator in sub-steps completion might have been useful to give user some motivation to move forward.

Select the data value

Expand/ collapse value details

Full- Submission Form

Step 4 - Data Quality

The user can view the details about each data quality values to understand them better.

Users can add the data quality values from the format or provide more information through comments.

indicators to shows the user the expected step after the submission

Full- Submission Form

Confirmation Message

Successful submission message to ensure the user that their submission is submitted and sent.

Building trust through open and continuous indicators. Showing the user where they are and what to expect from the process next.

Quick steps for form submission

User can add notes or comments regarding the impact to put more stress on data

LCIA Dashboard View

Page 2- LCIA Results

LCIA Submissions have less steps than Full Submission thus quick and time efficient. Indicators for each step completion.

Users have to provide the amounts of impacts for each impact area and are able to add more details.

Gate-keeper can review and take action on new submissions

Actions to approve, archive and reject the submission

Expand review submission details

Gate-keeper Dashboard View

Gatekeeper shares similar functionality alike users who can contribute and review submissions as well. This view provides additional functionality for them to review all the submissions and take action accordingly.

The view is largely divided into two types of submission entries. Also, user is able to search through the database to find specific entries.

Auto-generated text messages are sent to the users whose entries are rejected with reason. So, the user resending the submission knows what and where to make corrections.

Final designs and iterations

Show Labels

Default dashboard tab selection

Number of all the user’s submissions along with the status

Information material for the new users about the tool and how to use it

Full Submission is lenghthy

Number of all the industry submissions along with the type.

LCIA is a quick form submission

User Dashboard

The dashboard view is divided into three parts, it has an introductory context to the new tool and user guide, all the user submissions and their progress and all the industry level submissions added to the Higg Contribution database.

Clear CTA for the user to start LCIA or Full submissions

Since, user submission information is more important that section should be prioritised than the others and previous colour theme could be improved

Progress bar to track the form progress

Information already added to save user’s efforts

User can save the form progress at anytime & continue later

Full- Submission Form

Step 1- Submission Information

Progress bar helps users to anticipate the number of steps they have to complete.

Progress bar helps users to anticipate the number of steps they have to complete.

Since, it’s a long form submission saving the progress helps the user to continue where they left

Hint text could have helped the user to recognise what information to add in the input fields.

This step helps the user to place the new information in the respective category & sub-category

Full- Submission Form

Step 2- Higg Taxonomy

Making sure that guidance is easy to find whenever new users need help, no matter what they're doing (like having helpful tooltips).

Ample spacing between the touch targets to accurately select them. The user can review and select the whole sequence of the placement for their information.

Every section has ‘add new’ action if there is a new entry and no existing place could be a better fit. This way, the user does not feel restricted when providing new information.

Label/ field contextual details & action to add additional information through comments

Single step is divided into sub-steps to minimise the cognitive load

Full- Submission Form

Step 3 - Product Data

Made sure that the user has guidance and context that is easy to find whenever new users need help.

Bigger step is divided into smaller sub-steps to minimise the cognitive load for the user.

Through comments, users can add new information, this way it provides more flexibility to users and feed accurate information.

An indicator in sub-steps completion might have been useful to give user some motivation to move forward.

Select the data value

Expand/ collapse value details

Full- Submission Form

Step 4 - Data Quality

The user can view the details about each data quality values to understand them better.

Users can add the data quality values from the format or provide more information through comments.

indicators to shows the user the expected step after the submission

Full- Submission Form

Confirmation Message

Successful submission message to ensure the user that their submission is submitted and sent.

Building trust through open and continuous indicators. Showing the user where they are and what to expect from the process next.

Quick steps for form submission

User can add notes or comments regarding the impact to put more stress on data

LCIA Dashboard View

Page 2- LCIA Results

LCIA Submissions have less steps than Full Submission thus quick and time efficient. Indicators for each step completion.

Users have to provide the amounts of impacts for each impact area and are able to add more details.

Gate-keeper can review and take action on new submissions

Actions to approve, archive and reject the submission

Expand review submission details

Gate-keeper Dashboard View

Gatekeeper shares similar functionality alike users who can contribute and review submissions as well. This view provides additional functionality for them to review all the submissions and take action accordingly.

The view is largely divided into two types of submission entries. Also, user is able to search through the database to find specific entries.

Auto-generated text messages are sent to the users whose entries are rejected with reason. So, the user resending the submission knows what and where to make corrections.

User Dashboard

The dashboard view is divided into three parts, it has an introductory context to the new tool and user guide, all the user submissions and their progress and all the industry level submissions added to the Higg Contribution database.

Clear CTA for the user to start LCIA or Full submissions

Since, user submission information is more important that section should be prioritised than the others and previous colour theme could be improved

Default dashboard tab selection

Number of all the user’s submissions along with the status

Information material for the new users about the tool and how to use it

Full Submission is lenghthy

Number of all the industry submissions along with the type.

LCIA is a quick form submission

Progress bar to track the form progress

Information already added to save user’s efforts

User can save the form progress at anytime & continue later

Full- Submission Form

Step 1- Submission Information

Progress bar helps users to anticipate the number of steps they have to complete.

Progress bar helps users to anticipate the number of steps they have to complete.

Since, it’s a long form submission saving the progress helps the user to continue where they left

Hint text could have helped the user to recognise what information to add in the input fields.

This step helps the user to place the new information in the respective category & sub-category

Full- Submission Form

Step 2- Higg Taxonomy

Making sure that guidance is easy to find whenever new users need help, no matter what they're doing (like having helpful tooltips).

Ample spacing between the touch targets to accurately select them. The user can review and select the whole sequence of the placement for their information.

Every section has ‘add new’ action if there is a new entry and no existing place could be a better fit. This way, the user does not feel restricted when providing new information.

Label/ field contextual details & action to add additional information through comments

Single step is divided into sub-steps to minimise the cognitive load

Full- Submission Form

Step 3 - Product Data

Made sure that the user has guidance and context that is easy to find whenever new users need help.

Bigger step is divided into smaller sub-steps to minimise the cognitive load for the user.

Through comments, users can add new information, this way it provides more flexibility to users and feed accurate information.

An indicator in sub-steps completion might have been useful to give user some motivation to move forward.

Select the data value

Expand/ collapse value details

Full- Submission Form

Step 4 - Data Quality

The user can view the details about each data quality values to understand them better.

Users can add the data quality values from the format or provide more information through comments.

indicators to shows the user the expected step after the submission

Full- Submission Form

Confirmation Message

Successful submission message to ensure the user that their submission is submitted and sent.

Building trust through open and continuous indicators. Showing the user where they are and what to expect from the process next.

Quick steps for form submission

User can add notes or comments regarding the impact to put more stress on data

LCIA Dashboard View

Page 2- LCIA Results

LCIA Submissions have less steps than Full Submission thus quick and time efficient. Indicators for each step completion.

Users have to provide the amounts of impacts for each impact area and are able to add more details.

Gate-keeper Dashboard View

Gatekeeper shares similar functionality alike users who can contribute and review submissions as well. This view provides additional functionality for them to review all the submissions and take action accordingly.

The view is largely divided into two types of submission entries. Also, user is able to search through the database to find specific entries.

Auto-generated text messages are sent to the users whose entries are rejected with reason. So, the user resending the submission knows what and where to make corrections.

Gate-keeper can review and take action on new submissions

Actions to approve, archive and reject the submission

Expand review submission details

Final designs