The Challenge

Organizations attempting to implement ESG reporting faced several critical obstacles:

• Framework Proliferation: Dozens of reporting frameworks (SASB, GRI, TCFD, EU CSRD, etc.) with overlapping requirements

• Inconsistent Formats: Each framework presented requirements in different structures and terminology

• Hidden Connections: Significant overlap between frameworks was invisible to users, creating duplicate work

• Discovery Limitations: No clear path to identify which requirements applied to specific organizations

• Knowledge Transfer: Difficulty translating research findings into actionable reporting metrics

Design Approach

1. Normalizing the Regulatory Landscape

Challenge: Diverse frameworks used inconsistent structures and terminology.

Solution: Created a unified information architecture that normalized requirements across frameworks.

• Developed standardized metadata schema for consistent representation

• Designed flexible container system adapting to framework-specific structures

• Created visual hierarchy that preserved original framework organization while enabling cross-framework comparison

• Implemented consistent terminology mapping to unify diverse vocabulary across sources

2. Relationship-Driven Knowledge Graph

Challenge: Critical relationships between requirements remained hidden in traditional hierarchical systems.

Solution: Designed a graph database-powered relationship model revealing connections between requirements.

• Collaborated with data architects to define multi-dimensional relationship taxonomy

• Created intuitive visualization of requirement relationships across frameworks

• Designed interactive "You might also care about" recommendation panels that surfaced relevant connections

• Implemented relationship filters to focus on specific connection types (similar to, prerequisite for, satisfies)

3. Research Workflow Integration

Challenge: Research findings needed to seamlessly transition into reporting program development.

Solution: Created end-to-end workflow connecting research to program implementation.

• Designed bookmarking system for collecting relevant requirements

• Created custom collections functionality for organizing requirements by theme

• Implemented export pathways to transition selected requirements into Program metrics

• Developed comparison tools for assessing requirements across multiple frameworks

4. Visual Search & Discovery

Challenge: Traditional search couldn't adequately navigate complex interconnected requirements.

Solution: Designed multi-modal search experience tailored to ESG research workflows.

• Created faceted search with industry, topic, and framework filters

• Implemented specialized keyword mapping for ESG terminology

• Designed visual browsing interface for framework exploration

• Developed side-by-side comparison view for evaluating related requirements

Technical Execution

• Graph Database Integration: Collaborated with engineering to design optimal data structures

• Dynamic Visualization: Created responsive interface for displaying complex relationships

• Metadata Enhancement: Developed system for continuous framework updates and relationship refinement

• Memory Management: Optimized interface for handling thousands of interconnected nodes

User Impact

Explorer fundamentally transformed how organizations approach ESG reporting:

• Research Efficiency: Reduced framework analysis time from weeks to days

• Requirement Discovery: Increased identification of relevant requirements by over 40%

• Cross-Framework Alignment: Enabled organizations to satisfy multiple frameworks simultaneously

• Implementation Clarity: Provided clear pathway from requirements to metric development

• Regulatory Insight: Delivered unprecedented visibility into the evolving ESG landscape

Business Outcomes

Explorer served as the primary entry point to the Sustainability Platform, delivering significant business value:

• Market Differentiation: Established Workiva as having unique insight into ESG complexity

• Sales Enablement: Provided compelling demonstration of value during sales process

• Customer Acquisition: Attracted new enterprise clients seeking regulatory clarity

• Platform Adoption: Created natural pathway to Program implementation

• Expert Positioning: Reinforced Workiva's thought leadership in ESG reporting

Design Innovation

The Explorer introduced several innovative patterns that influenced both Workiva's design system and the broader industry:

• Knowledge Graph Navigation: New paradigm for exploring interconnected regulatory content

• Relationship Visualization: Interactive methods for displaying non-hierarchical connections

• Framework Normalization: Unified presentation of diverse regulatory structures

• Recommendation Systems: Contextual suggestion patterns for complex information spaces

• Research-to-Implementation Workflow: Seamless transition from discovery to action

Explorer established the foundation of Workiva's Sustainability Platform success, demonstrating how thoughtful information architecture and relationship design could transform overwhelming complexity into intuitive clarity for enterprise users.