Cotton Capital

Cotton Capital was one of The Guardian’s most significant investigative projects, examining the historical links between the newspaper’s founder, John Edward Taylor, his associates, and the transatlantic slave trade.

I collaborated with editorial and design teams to create an interactive long-form article that revealed the investigation process and helped readers understand how hundreds of historical documents were pieced together to uncover these connections.

Designing the investigation narrative

The challenge was translating a complex, document-led investigation into an engaging digital storytelling experience.

The investigation uncovered evidence through financial records, ship records, banking information, family correspondence, and business agreements. We used the metaphor of archival documents and handwritten records as the foundation for the visual experience.

The design centred around the idea of uncovering evidence — introducing the story through layered scraps of paper that were gradually revealed as users progressed through the article.

Interaction and storytelling

To bring the investigative process to life, we created interactive document carousels that allowed readers to explore the evidence collected during the investigation.

Each interaction revealed another layer of information, mirroring the journalists’ process of piecing together fragmented historical records to uncover a wider story.

Impact

The experience transformed a complex historical investigation into an accessible and immersive digital narrative, helping readers understand not only the findings, but also the rigorous process behind uncovering them.