My Three Cents

Arc’teryx is my favourite outdoor clothing and technical outerwear companies. They make outstanding products with the highest quality. In this short web audit, I’d like to see if their website stands up to their product. So, without further ado, the 7 C’s of Web Design…

Context: 8/10

Functionality of the Arc’teryx website is up to par, with clearly labeled headers and dropdown menus full of options. There are easy links to their social feeds, their contact list, and a very useful searchbar. The design of the website is also very pleasing with a uniquely West Coast feel to it, showcasing snowcapped mountains and wet old growth forest scenes.

Content: 9/10

There is text where there needs to be text and it’s informative and concise. Their are pictures and videos everywhere. All of the content is useful and to the point, none of it being redundant. Product pages have pictures of the product at all different angles and videos showcasing it in realtime. The pages telling their story use a balanced ratio of pictures and words to tell it.

Community: 9/10

For each product, there is a comment box at the bottom of the page where you can submit reviews of the product. As it’s a very popular website and customers are passionate about their Arc’teryx products, each product has a long list of honest and well-thought-out reviews. The website also links to the Arc’teryx blog that is regularly updated with athlete stories and company updates. When you view the blog, you are prompted to sign up for the company enewsletter.

Customization: 8/10

Under the ‘Shop’ dropdown menu at the top of the website is a wide variety of options. You can shop mens gear and womens gear, or you can shop by activity (climbing, skiing/snowboarding, hiking, running, etc), or you can search through their specific collections. However, the website is designed exactly the same for all of these categories. There is no customization of user experience based on what the customer is looking for.

Communication: 5/10

Under the ‘Contact Us’ tab, there is a very basic user experience where you can submit an email to the Arc’teryx team with your questions or concerns. There is also a general customer service phone number offered.

Connection: 7/10

Included in the tabs at the top of their website is a link to their Arc’teryx Veilance brand website. There are also very clear links to their blog and all of their social media channels under their ‘@arcteryx’ tab.

Commerce: 10/10

The Arc’teryx website offers absolute professionalism and simplicity as it takes you through the purchasing process. You have the option of checking out as a guest or signing up to become a member with your purchase and all forms of online payment are accepted. They also give you a chance to review your entire purchase before finalizing your decision.

After analyzing the 7 C’s of Web Design, I am able to say that the Arc’teryx website is in line with the quality of their superior products.