DIGITAL & STRATEGIC
UX DESIGN PRACTICE
STRATEGIC DESIGN
Leveraging UX design to support textile suppliers in improving their water management practices
Developing a water stewardship toolkit to help textile suppliers implement water smart practises across their operations.
How can we assist an international retailer in equipping its suppliers to engage in responsible water stewardship and report their efforts accurately?
Successful implementation of water-efficient practices across the supply chain requires a deep understanding of the context, constraints, and people involved in the process. Technical recommendations, for example, will not be as effective, if we don't consider the people delivering them.
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Arup developed a comprehensive toolkit with step-by-step instructions, tips, and recommendations to assist regional managers in motivating and aligning suppliers to embark on a water stewardship journey. It includes three practical guides and an interactive assessment tool enabling suppliers to understand the retailer's Water Stewardship vision, the new EU regulations and prioritise water smart practices to take forward effectively.
By applying a UX driven design approach to fashion brand's supply chain, Arup was able to identify regional managers as pivotal brokers in accelerating the client's water stewardship efforts and develop a standardised process that enables them to effectively convey the social, economic and environmental benefits of water smart practices to local suppliers.
The retailer is committed to significantly reducing its water footprint across critical areas of the supply chain and expects their suppliers and workers to meet the Water Stewardship Strategic targets by 2030.
Collating and reporting water efficiency activities often poses challenges for textile suppliers, especially in regions where water conservation is deprioritised, implementation is perceived as costly and requiring advanced technological expertise. In addition, navigating and complying with new EU regulatory frameworks, Digital Product Passports, and UN SDG 6.4 are considered an extra burden to an already very competitive market; where small suppliers feel disadvantaged to keep up with requirements.
Arup’s UX design approach provided an opportunity to view the challenge of implementing water smart practices not just as a technological issue, but also as a people-centric one.
The project was structured according to the four phases of the double diamond: Discover – Define – Develop – Deliver. By employing this human-centered design process, Arup identified areas where minor changes could significantly propel the fashion brand's Water Stewardship targets forwards and concentrated their efforts accordingly.
Project Highlights
Making data-driven design decisions
Through user research methods like interviews, desk research and surveys, the team gained insights into the specific needs and challenges of both regional managers and suppliers regarding water stewardship. The research spanned across countries such as Turkey, China, Vietnam, India, and Bangladesh, providing a nuanced understanding of the diverse contexts and requirements involved.
In doing so, Arup successfully identified regional managers as key brokers for promoting the retailer's Water Stewardship Strategy among suppliers. Equipped with this insight, the team strategically focussed on developing a step-by-step guide and an easy-to-use baseline assessment tool, both of which are encompassed in the Water Stewardship Toolkit.
Changing water practices together
The Water Stewardship Tool kit is designed to facilitate conversations between regional managers and suppliers, guiding them through the implementation and monitoring of water-smart practices.
Tailored sections within the toolkit cater to the specific needs of both stakeholders, fostering a collaborative training environment. Regional managers and suppliers can easily access relevant information, share insights, and coordinate actions, facilitating meaningful conversations and building trust between all parties involved. By highlighting quick wins and actionable insights, the toolkit empowers users to make impactful decisions swiftly, contributing to more effective water conservation efforts overall.
Simplifying the assessment of water-smart practices
Arup developed a user-friendly, baseline water smart practice assessment tool that allows suppliers to evaluate their existing water stewardship efforts against global industry standards and the retailer's water strategy goals. Recognising language barriers, technical complexity, and time constraints as significant hurdles to effective monitoring, Arup's objective was to develop a tool that simplifies the process, making it straightforward and efficient for the suppliers across the world.
