Avon VPN - website redesign
Redesigning the Anon VPN Website for a Smoother, Safer Surf
My Role
UI Designer
Industry
Web3
Platform
Website
Introduction –>
Anon VPN promised to protect your online privacy with the power of blockchain, but if you visited the site, you might wonder if the real challenge was figuring out what the site offered.
The goal?
Revamp the Anon VPN website to reduce its high bounce rate and increase user conversions. The previous design left users more confused than secure, with a vague value proposition and a layout that didn’t exactly scream “next-gen privacy protection.”
Old Website Link –>
When I first landed on the site, it was like getting into a spy thriller with no plotline—exciting in theory, but with no clear direction. I needed to inject personality, purpose, and structure into the design while maintaining the seriousness of its mission: protect users from prying eyes.
Problem Statement –>
After breaking down the Anon VPN site like a hacker sniffing out vulnerabilities, here’s what I found:
- Lack of Clarity in the Hero Section: The initial messaging “Secure. Private. Anonymous. Decentralized” was bold but vague. Users had no immediate idea what Anon VPN was offering or how it worked.
- Bland Features Section: The site laid out its features in a static and text-heavy way. I mean, yes, DNS leak protection is important, but where’s the excitement in a plain list?
- Outdated Visuals and Layout: The visual hierarchy was as flat as a VPN’s encrypted traffic. No eye-catching CTAs or engaging design elements that guide the user journey.
- Trust and Social Proof: VPNs are all about trust. The website didn’t present any social proof or testimonials that reassured users they were in good hands.
These issues led to high bounce rates and low engagement, and more users were likely to drop off before even considering signing up for the service.
Proposed Solutions
The website needed a shake-up, and I had the perfect recipe: a user-friendly, visually engaging design with a dash of interactivity to keep users scrolling instead of bolting.
Redesigned Hero Section with Clear CTA:
I scrapped the generic slogans and crafted a clear, action-driven headline: “Accessible & Affordable Decentralised VPN.” A bold, centred CTA button—“Get Protected Now”—was impossible to miss. I added subtle animations in the background, like shield icons and blockchain nodes connecting, to reinforce the website's promise of security in a visually stimulating way.
Interactive Features Section:
Instead of the static list, I incorporated hover effects and interactive tooltips highlighting each feature in detail. For instance, when hovering over "Surveillance Shield," a little pop-up with a shield would appear, reassuring users: “Your privacy is sealed tighter than a hacker-proof vault.”
Modern Design with a Clear Visual Hierarchy:
The redesign focused on clean, modern design principles. I used bold headers, intuitive icons, and colour-coded sections to break up the information and guide the user through the site.
Website Overview ->
Design Details
Here’s where things got exciting. I brought in a new level of interactivity and visual engagement to enhance the user experience while keeping everything simple and intuitive.
Onboarding with Engaging Animations:
To create a warm welcome and instantly convey the product’s core value, I introduced an animated video as the hero background. This wasn’t just any stock animation—it was designed to visually represent the concept of privacy protection.
To take things a step further, I added an interactive CTA that changed colour and popped when hovered over. The new copy—“Get Protected Now”—paired with a smooth bounce animation
Hover Interaction in the Features Section:
The old features list felt as static as a parked car. So, I turbocharged it by introducing hover effects. When users hover over a feature card (like "Stealth Mode" or "Revolutionary Fusion"), a popup image animation appears, showing a relevant visual, such as a stealthy cloak for Stealth Mode or a shield blocking DNS leaks. This feature added an element of surprise and engagement.
Optimized FAQ Section with User-Centric Layout:
Given the rise of mobile browsing, I ensured the entire design was responsive and optimized for smaller screens. The mobile version retained the interactive elements without sacrificing load times because waiting for a page to load is like a breach in itself.
Business Impact
The revamped design brought significant improvements. The bounce rate decreased by 30%, and user conversions increased by 22% within the first two months post-launch. Not only did the design improvements boost trust and credibility, but users also spent 45% more time on the website, engaging with the interactive elements and understanding the product better.
Additionally, the clearer value proposition helped potential customers realize how Anon VPN differed from traditional VPN services—merging blockchain with VPN technology for an unmatched layer of security.
Learnings from the Project
This redesign wasn’t just a design challenge—it was a lesson in simplifying complex information. Here’s what I walked away with:
- Clarity is King: Users need to understand your product within seconds of landing on the homepage. The clearer the message, the faster users can make decisions.
- Micro-interactions Make a Big Difference: Small animations and hover effects might seem like icing on the cake, but they kept users engaged and added a layer of professionalism to the overall experience.
- Design for Trust: In industries like VPNs, trust is the most valuable currency. Social proof and user testimonials aren’t just nice-to-haves—they’re essential to convincing users they’re in safe hands.
Conclusion
Through this project, I also realized that even the most serious products (like VPNs) can benefit from a bit of personality. At the end of the day, good UX isn’t just about solving problems—it’s about making users’ lives easier and more enjoyable.