In the ever-evolving landscape of EHS (Environment, Health, and Safety) and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) solutions, user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design play pivotal roles in shaping the efficiency and effectiveness of software platforms. At Cority, a leading global enterprise EHS software provider, this commitment to UX/UI excellence is embodied by Scott Miner, Sr. Director of Platform & Design.
In this interview, Scott shares insights into his background, Cority’s UX/UI philosophy, their new, innovative partnership with Level Access, and future directions for accessibility and design.
“Many organizations want to make a splash about accessibility in UX/UI and say they’re doing something about it, but when it comes down to actually investing, the brakes come on. At Cority, we’ve invested in an ongoing program with Level Access. It’s a commitment to inclusion Cority is fully behind, and I’m incredibly proud to work at a company that would do that.”- Scott Miner
Scott Miner’s Journey into UX/UI Design
James Smith (JS): Can you tell us a bit about your background and what inspired you to pursue a career in UX/UI design?
Scott Minor (SM): I landed in design simply by proximity—my dad ran a design studio in Rochester, NY. I was lucky to grow up spending afternoons as a kid hanging around with a bunch of visual artists. I was hooked early. After college at RIT, I landed a gig at Bank of America in UX design. Two short years later, a few of us stepped out to start our own digital agency, which we perfectly timed with the dot-com bust. Tough times made for resourcefulness and taught us how to run lean.
After scaling that business, I moved on to another rapid growth startup, which eventually rolled up into a nationwide TelCom brand in Vancouver, BC. There, I served as Head of Experience, focusing on the intersection of data, innovation, and feeding the world. Cority was a natural next step.
The Importance of UX/UI in EHS & ESG Solutions
JS: Why is UX crucial for empowering EHS & ESG professionals?
SM: A positive user experience means users can get in and get to work in a way that makes sense, is easy, and engaging. For Cority products, getting the job done efficiently and correctly results in a safer and more sustainable world for all of us. Often, the processes we’re enabling – such as risk management and ESG reporting — are complex and time-consuming. Solid UX means we’re cutting down on time and errors, getting the job done correctly, and empowering users to better manage their EHS programs and gain actionable insights that protect employees and community stakeholders.
Partnership with Level Access: Elevating Accessibility
JS: Could you explain the nature of the new partnership between Cority and Level Access?
SM: Accessibility has been on Cority’s radar for quite some time but addressing it consistently at scale is just plain tough. It’s a mountain. We recognize that partnering with experts will help us go faster and drive measurable results. In 2024, Cority decided to partner with Level Access, a comprehensive digital accessibility solution that combines advanced software with expert services to help organizations design, build, and maintain accessible digital experiences. Their platform includes automated and manual testing tools, remediation, analytics, and legal support, ensuring compliance with accessibility standards across digital assets.
Level Access will be performing a number of important tasks to enhance Cority’s solutions, including:
- Conduct Expert Software Audits: Perform detailed evaluations of our software to identify compliance issues and vulnerabilities.
- Implement a Management Dashboard: Provide a tailored dashboard for internal use, enhancing visibility and project management of remediation tasks.
- Provide Remediation Recommendations: Offer clear guidance on fixing identified defects to ensure compliance and improve software reliability.
We will also leverage their best-in-class control center, which gives us KPIs and inventory items that need to be addressed. It’s a lot of little things versus a few big things. Having a framework to follow is the only path to success at that scale.
“Digital accessibility is an ongoing practice, not a one-time project. By committing to building and maintaining accessible solutions for the long term, Cority is doing more than paying lip service to inclusive product design—the team is taking meaningful action toward delivering an exceptional experience for every user. We’re thrilled to partner with them as they set a new standard for UX excellence both within and beyond the EHS and ESG space.”
– Jon Avila, Chief Accessibility Officer, Level Access
JS: What motivated Cority to partner with Level Access for accessibility solutions?
SM: First and foremost, it’s the right thing to do. Building software that everyone can use regardless of their abilities is table stakes. Next, we work with quite a few clients that are obligated to meet regulations related to accessibility. We want to make sure that our products meet and exceed those standards. A natural byproduct of fixing accessibility issues is improved usability and an elevated user experience for all—it’s not just fixing web pages to work for screen readers.
Another driving factor is Cority’s designation of FedRAMP Authorized status from the US government. Being FedRAMP certified means we are held to the highest levels of scrutiny in delivering secure cloud services and products. Level Access is also FedRAMP certified, which shows their level of quality related to building secure cloud-based software and helps us stay compliant. Currently, Cority is the only EHS software provider that has achieved this status and is continually looking to push its products to the highest standards to meet future marketplace needs.
JS: How does Level Access’s software and auditing services enhance the accessibility of the Cority platform?
SM: Auto-scanning coupled with human-led auditing of our software gives us a comprehensive list of enhancements to chip away at. These include very simple things like making sure a form has a tab sequence built in so users who can only use keyboard inputs can work through a form easily, ensuring elements have “alt-tags” so screen readers can announce what the field, button, or image means, standardizing minimum contrast ratios so that text is legible, not washed out, and setting ideal font sizes to improve legibility. These are only a few of the items that we can address to elevate the overall accessible experience. Luckily, most accessibility enhancements are super easy fixes, but on large enterprise applications with a large surface area, we need a partner to detect and manage the inventory.
JS: Can you share any specific features or tools that have been developed through this partnership to support users with disabilities?
SM: No specific features to call out yet—we’re just getting started. Relatedly, in addition to Level Access, our CorityOne UX team is using best-in-class tools like Figma and Stark in the design process. This allows for anything new that’s designed to be tested in the design phase before it ever makes it to engineering. With our Figma prototypes being compliant out of the gate, we’re off to a great start.
Future Directions in UX/UI Design
JS: What future trends do you see in UX/UI design, particularly in relation to accessibility and the shifting needs of EHS & ESG?
SM: In both the fields of EHS & ESG, the common thread of shifting needs encompasses the push to ensure equitable risk prevention, protection of resources, and reducing environmental impacts. To achieve this, accessibility of the tools used to empower all stakeholders, from the field to the boardroom, is a necessity.
In terms of trends, digital products are evolving to be more conversational with the rise of AI. As we leverage these new capabilities, we cannot lose focus on ensuring these interactions are inclusive of all users. Every new feature needs to have accessibility in mind.
The other not-so-new trend is the continued move to smaller screens. With tablets and phones becoming more ubiquitous, usability and responsiveness is critical to stay focused on. Scenarios like offline use, rugged or low-light use, and narrow point solutions are things we’re keeping an eye on. Following accessibility principles will help drive quality and ultimately provide for a safer environment.
Another evolving area we’re paying attention to is digital content that’s not just a web page – reports, PDF content and video assets all need an eye on accessibility.
Goals and Outcomes for Cority’s Accessibility Program
JS: Is there anything else you would like to share about the partnership with Level Access or your work in making technology more accessible for everyone?
SM: Accessibility is often misunderstood or deprioritized at organizations of all sizes. I am beyond proud to work at an organization that fully embraces the commitment to build software that everyone can use. From day one, leadership has been 100% supportive of making a significant investment in moving the needle on accessibility.
Cority’s strategic investment in UX/UI design and its partnership with Level Access underscores a steadfast commitment to creating inclusive, user-friendly, and efficient EHS and ESG solutions. Under Scott Miner’s leadership, Cority is poised to set new benchmarks in the industry, ensuring that all users, regardless of their abilities, can seamlessly engage with their platforms.
