USC STEAM 2024: Webpage Design

EAFab’s vision for a brighter future inspired our team to take on a challenge that bridged creativity, technology, and the steel industry’s legacy. Over several months, we embarked on a journey to design three interconnected websites that not only enhanced EAFab’s online presence but also reflected its core values and aspirations.

Scope of Our Mission

EAFab tasked us with creating webpages that:

• Boost search engine optimization (SEO) to make the brand more discoverable online.

• Attract new customers and interested consumers to join EAFab’s forward-thinking enterprise.

• Serve as a hub for educating audiences about the steel industry and EAFab’s innovative processes.

• Develop three core areas: Steelmaking, Aluminum, and Oil & Gas, in addition to a cohesive home page.

Our Journey

Learning and Planning: We immersed ourselves in Wix Studio, the platform chosen for this initiative. Mastering its tools, including animations, sections, and alt-text features, was crucial for aligning with EAFab’s design philosophy.

Research and Strategy: We studied competitor websites, drawing insights to refine EAFab’s digital footprint. Guided by feedback from our project lead, we identified key priorities, including highlighting the steel industry’s green initiatives.

Design Philosophy: Consistency and interactivity were our guiding principles. We combined engaging animations, strategic use of alt-text for SEO, and a minimalist aesthetic to ensure fast load times and visual appeal.

Throughout the process, we worked closely with Ms. Jesse Quiroga and EAFab to incorporate their feedback into our designs.

Final Solution

Steelmaking Page: As EAFab’s flagship service, this page showcases the company’s expertise in forging and casting while emphasizing environmental sustainability. Using dynamic animations and precise content, we created an informative and visually stunning experience

Aluminum Page: This page highlights EAFab’s cutting-edge aluminum exhaust stack solutions, with a focus on sustainability and technical innovation. Alt-text and keywords were thoughtfully integrated to boost discoverability.

Oil & Gas Page: Designed primarily as a placeholder, this page supports EAFab’s SEO goals while maintaining the consistent aesthetic of the website. It also opens the door to more development as EAFab becomes more involved with the Oil & Gas industry.

Through this project, we discovered the steel industry’s immense potential to engage a diverse audience. By incorporating vibrant visuals, accessible content, and innovative design, we’ve reimagined EAFab’s website as a tool to educate and inspire the next generation of steel professionals.

Lessons We Learned

This was our first time working with a corporate partner, and we all grew a lot through the process, gaining valuable insights into collaboration, communication, and adapting to real-world challenges while delivering results that aligned with both our goals and theirs.

As we conclude this journey, our gratitude goes to EAFab and our mentors for their unwavering support. Together, we’ve built a new opportunity for consumers, positioning EAFab at the forefront in the future of the steel industry. We look forward to seeing how EAFab incorporates our work as they redesign their website.

USC STEAM Students who worked on the project: Abhi Kanani, Valentina Sobarzo, and Ishaan Sharma.