Ecosystem Climate Capital /Technical Documentation

Design

User Experience

The principles and patterns that shape every ECC surface. Designed for professionals who do consequential work — fast, safely, and with a clear audit trail.

Principles

  1. Truthful by default. Numbers always show their source, vintage, and last-updated timestamp.
  2. Reversible when possible, deliberate when not. Destructive actions require confirmation that names the object and consequence.
  3. Field-aware. Mobile flows assume bad networks, gloves, glare, and one-handed use.
  4. Quiet UI, loud signals. Color is reserved for status, deltas, and warnings.
  5. Keyboard parity. Anything possible with a mouse is possible with a keyboard.

Information architecture

  • Primary axis: module (Pipeline, Portfolio, MRV, Marketplace, Reporting).
  • Secondary axis: tenant + environment + as-of date in the sticky context bar.
  • Tertiary axis: object focus (a deal, a plot, a credit batch) with deep links and breadcrumbs.

Interaction patterns

  • Command palette (⌘K): jump to any object, run any action, search across tenants.
  • Inline edit: click a value to edit, Esc to cancel, Enter to save; optimistic with rollback.
  • Drawer over modal: drawers preserve page context; modals reserved for hard blocks.
  • Split view: list + detail with synchronised filters; remembered per user.
  • Multi-step approvals: a single review screen shows all evidence side-by-side; one decision, one signature.

Empty, loading & error states

  • Empty: explain what lives here and offer the first useful action.
  • Loading: skeletons that match final layout; no spinners on full pages.
  • Error: human-readable cause + suggested next step + retry. Include a copy-able trace id.

Accessibility

  • Color contrast 4.5:1 minimum (3:1 for large text); tested in light and dark themes.
  • All interactive elements reachable via tab, with visible focus rings.
  • Form labels associated programmatically; errors announced to assistive tech.
  • Reduced-motion preference honoured for transitions and chart animations.

Localisation

Strings are extracted to ICU MessageFormat files. Numbers, currencies, and dates use the user's locale. Right-to-left layouts supported at the design system level even though no RTL locale ships at launch.

Research cadence

  • Two usability sessions per sprint on the most-changed flow.
  • Quarterly diary studies with field agents during active MRV campaigns.
  • Continuous in-product feedback widget routed to the relevant product owner.