In the dynamic world of web development, we’ve recently embarked on a fascinating journey, designing websites for numerous steel companies. Our focus has primarily been on Australian enterprises, with a sprinkle of international clients. This venture led us down a path of extensive research, particularly into the trending website designs for steel companies.
We took a deep dive into the digital presence of some of the world’s top steel companies. It was intriguing to observe that, despite their massive scale, some of these industry giants lag in their online presentation. However, amidst these, there are some websites that could serve as inspiration for any steel company contemplating a digital makeover.
Let’s delve into a few examples:
ArcelorMittal
Company Overview: ArcelorMittal reigns as a colossal player in the steel manufacturing industry, with its headquarters in Luxembourg.
Website: corporate.arcelormittal.com
Design Review: The website boasts a clean and robust design, interspersed with gentle animations that add a touch of sophistication. However, it’s not all style over substance. While the site passed the core web vitals on desktop, it faltered on mobile platforms.
Core web vitals are essential for measuring the health and performance of a website. They focus on aspects like loading performance, interactivity, and visual stability. On mobile, where user engagement is paramount, failing these vitals can significantly impact user experience and search engine rankings.
POSCO
Company Overview: POSCO, headquartered in Pohang-si, South Korea, is another titan in the steel industry, commanding global attention.
Website: poscointl.com/eng
Design Review: The site greets visitors with a striking design, featuring an opening video and animations in various sections. However, this ambition comes at a cost – a convoluted navigation experience. Like ArcelorMittal, POSCO’s site passed core web vitals on desktop but struggled on mobile.
POSCO’s website highlights the delicate balance between aesthetic complexity and usability. While it showcases impressive design elements, it has performance issues yet a good user experience (UX).
China Baowu Steel Group Corporation Limited
Company Overview: Based in Shanghai, China, this company is a significant force in the global steel market.
Website: baowugroup.com/en/home
Design Review: The website starts with an impactful opening video and offers smooth navigation. However, the page loading times are sluggish, especially with animations, which detracts from the overall experience. Similar to its counterparts, it failed the core web vitals on mobile and also on desktop.
China Baowu’s website highlights the critical need for speed and performance in web design, particularly in an era where users expect quick and responsive digital experiences.
The Bigger Picture
These websites, given the stature of their respective companies, are likely among the most frequented in the steel industry. They provide some insights into current design trends and practices. However, they also reveal a common shortfall in key areas such as performance, speed, and user experience.
In today’s fast-paced digital world, a website’s performance, speed, and user experience are not just additional features but essential components. They significantly influence user retention, engagement, and conversion rates. In the context of SEO, these factors directly affect a website’s visibility and ranking on search engines, thus impacting its overall digital presence and credibility.
While these websites showcase innovative design elements, they also serve as a reminder of the critical balance required in web development – where aesthetic appeal must harmoniously coexist with functionality, performance, and user accessibility.