BAT Uncovered

Designing an investigative digital experience that exposes corporate misconduct and helps audiences navigate the evidence with clarity.

CHALLENGE

Presenting a dense, multi-layered investigation in a way that preserved clarity, credibility, and comprehension without diminishing its seriousness.

OBJECTIVE

As lead designer, I established the UX and visual direction which shaped the experience as a guided investigation, balancing narrative tension with clear pathways through compelling evidence.

PROJECT TYPE

Website

CLIENT

Expose Tobacco

TIMELINE

July - Sept ‘21

Building an Investigative Tone

The visual direction was intentionally bold and unsettling, using striking imagery and stark contrast to evoke the hidden, deceptive nature of BAT's actions. Rather than presenting the content as a conventional informational report, the design creates the feeling of uncovering evidence and exposing misconduct.

The design balances atmosphere with clarity, using visual tone to support the narrative.

Website header with text 'Sabotage, Deceit and Duplicity' and highlighted 'British American Tobacco Uncovered' surrounded by images of British five and fifty pound notes.
Bar chart of value of payments from 2008-2013 with stacks of £50 notes illustrating amounts to various targets: Staff of competitor tobacco companies highest, followed by Politicians, Civil servants, Other, Individuals working in/supporting Parliamentary Committee, and Journalists lowest.

Making Hidden Systems Visible

The map and data visualizations were designed to help users trace patterns across regions, actors, and incidents without losing the larger story.

This created a way to explore the investigation spatially while keeping the broader narrative coherent and easy to follow.

Map showing connections from the United Kingdom to several countries in Africa highlighted in blue, with white lines linking the UK to marked points in Africa.
Infographic showing allegations of surveillance and interference by BAT in South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, and Democratic Republic of the Congo with blue country maps and descriptive text.
Report cover titled 'British American Tobacco in South Africa: Any Means Necessary' with a map of Africa highlighting South Africa and surveillance cameras, alongside a summary of leaked documents exposing BAT's illegal activities.

Outcomes

Website

CLARITY

Turned a dense global investigation into a guided digital experience that made key findings easier to follow.

EXPLORATION

Created clearer pathways for policymakers, journalists, and advocates to navigate the evidence.

VISIBILITY

Became the most visited page within the Expose Tobacco website ecosystem.

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