Role
Skills
Data Visualization, Storytelling, Information Architecture, Web Design, Prototyping
UX/UI Design Intern
Timeline
12 Weeks, Summer 2023
Team
Madelyn Kwon, Jen Quinlan
Cargill is a global retailer focused on sustainable, traceable cotton. CottonWise is a B2B web platform built to help retailers better understand where Cargill’s cotton comes from—and what makes it responsible. The goal was to create a clear, engaging way to share Cargill’s value: from sourcing practices and supply origins to the social and environmental efforts behind the scenes. This project is all about making the supply chain more transparent, while showing how Cargill leads in sustainable cotton sourcing.
COTTONWISE
B2B Web Platform for Sustainable Cotton @Cargill
Area of Opportunity
To improve productivity, factory floor employees need a clear understanding of efficient meat-cutting techniques. However, they may not always be able recognize when they’re struggling or know how to correct their mistakes. As a result, managers struggle to identify performance gaps and lack the proper tools necessary to help them support and train their employees effectively.
Value Proposition
BRAND & BUSINESS
Stronger Brand Positioning
Sales Enablement Tools
Consumer & Buyer Trust
RETAIL BUYERS
Accessible Sourcing Info
Supply Chain Insights
Purchase with Confidence
THE PLATFORM
Section 1: Programs
The Programs sections acts as a landing page which introduces Cargill’s Sustainable Cotton and guides users to other key areas on the website. This section highlights the value of Cargill’s programs, with details on U.S. and Brazil initiatives, each including a mission and learn-more links. A comparison table helps buyers evaluate programs by certification and impact.
Section 2: Products
The Products section allows buyers to filter cotton options based on region, quantity, practices, programs, and sustainability rating using both list and map views. In list view, clients can refine their search by specific criteria, while map view displays cotton quantities by region with density circles, offering a visual tool for identifying suppliers by location and suitability.
Section 3: Dashboard
The Dashboard section provides buyers with key insights into Cargill's sustainable cotton supply, including classifications by sustainability, traceability, and certification. Interactive charts break down cotton by geography, sustainability practices, and social impact initiatives, helping buyers make informed purchasing decisions based on supply origins and responsible practices.
Section 4: Reports
The Reports section offers annual greenhouse gas data, including farm sustainability practices and seasonal highlights. Interactive charts compare Cargill's sustainable cotton to conventional cotton in terms of greenhouse gas removals, showing Cargill’s environmental leadership and improvements over time.
INNOVATION TO IMPACT
Discovery Phase
To kick off the project, we explored past CottonWise hackathon prototypes, looked into Cargill’s current sustainability efforts, and pulled visual inspiration from both Cargill and eCommerce sites. We also considered the needs of potential buyers like Nike, who are shifting toward more eco-conscious sourcing.
Regenerative agriculture—focused on soil health, biodiversity, and preserving natural systems—is a big factor in those decisions. Buyers often rank these practices on a scale from good to best, so we made sure our designs clearly communicate Cargill’s efforts in these areas to help buyers make informed, sustainable choices.
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Data Analysis
Using the Master Matrix and GHG Benchmarking Reports, we analyzed Cargill’s greenhouse gas data to better understand the environmental impact of their cotton supply. We focused on key areas such as total GHG removals, differences between conventional and regenerative farming, and five-year outcome trends. This analysis helped us categorize impact areas, link them to specific programs, and accurately visualize emissions data in our designs to reflect real-world practices and results.
Structuring the Site
After our research and discovery phase, we used information architecture and UX best practices to organize the platform into four key sections: Programs, Products, Dashboard, and Reports. This structure was shaped by the needs of potential buyers and the complexity of Cargill’s cotton supply data.
Programs allows users to explore and compare Cargill’s sustainability initiatives, certifications, and social impact efforts.
Products provides both list and map views for buyers to filter cotton supply by region, quantity, programs, and practices.
Dashboard offers a high-level overview of supply metrics, sustainability efforts, and social initiatives from the previous year.
Reports presents greenhouse gas data to highlight the environmental impact of Cargill’s cotton compared to conventional farming.
This structure helps buyers navigate the platform intuitively and access the most relevant information to support informed, sustainable purchasing decisions.
LEARNINGS & OUTCOMES
This project challenged me to work with complex datasets for the first time—translating detailed matrices into clear, meaningful visuals for buyers.
It was also my first external, customer-facing (B2B) project, which meant thinking beyond functionality to consider brand positioning, sales goals, and ethical UI decisions.
As my final project at Cargill, it was a great way to bring together everything I’d learned in UX and visual design, and wrap up my internship with a real-world, high-impact product.