Community call #2614 - NymVPN Open Design Kitchen with Hux
Hey Nymsters!
After breaking a 15-week streak (Hux got sick - no hard feelings, happens to all of us when we finally take a holiday), we’re back with double vengeance! This week, Hux (former community member, co-founder of Pineapple Proxy, now Head of Product) joined Sudo for an interactive open design kitchen session - a sneak peek into the upcoming NymVPN redesign.
Big thanks to everyone who joined and gave feedback!
Where We Are Today
Hux showed the current NymVPN interface - packed with powerful features achieved over the past year:
- Split tunneling, ad blocking, IPv6, LAN bypass
- Post-quantum gateways, DNS customization, anti-censorship features
- Wallet proxy, and more
“These are engineering marvels. Getting split tunneling right in the decentralized VPN space is a massive feature. Post-quantum key cryptography in our gateways is an insane technical feat.”
But there’s a problem: For newcomers or people in a hurry, the current interface is overwhelming.
“Entry and exit? What the hell does that mean? Most users just want to press one button and watch Netflix.”
The Vision: Privacy Companion, Not Just a VPN
The new design aims to be leaner, cleaner, and educational - a privacy companion that helps users understand what they’re doing, not just click buttons.
“Our goal is to create an educational tool that not only allows you to connect to nodes but also learn about what it means when you do that.”
Key changes:
- One-click quick connect - algorithm picks the best node for your location (closest, fastest, most secure)
- Folding connection button - three states: simple (just connect), medium (mode toggle), advanced (entry/exit selection)
- IP address display - helps newcomers verify they’re actually protected
- Post-quantum indicator - shows if gateway has PQ keys
- Map (coming in next release) - auto-rotates to show your connection location
- Light mode (yes, really) - for the 50% of users who prefer it (Sudo is not happy, but Hux insists)
“Good design is invisible. You just use it. It’s comfortable. You don’t notice how it’s designed - unless it’s a really nice chair.”
The Folding Button Concept
| State | What You See | Who It’s For |
|---|---|---|
| Folded | One “Connect” button | Newcomers, quick connections |
| Partial | Mode toggle (Fast/Anonymous) | Casual users |
| Unfolded | Entry/Exit selection | Advanced users, node operators |
“When I’m at an airport, I don’t want to go through all the trouble of inputting my settings. I just want to connect to be secure.”
Open Design Kitchen - Your Feedback Needed!
Hux shared a Figma board (link in chat, open for 24+ hours) where anyone can leave comments, post-its, and thumbs up/down on the designs.
“Everything is in flux. Your feedback could result in real changes. We’re doing this for you, with you.”
Community Feedback Board on Figma
Q&A Highlights
Q: You moved away from dark web visual style and now you’re going back - why?
Hux clarified: they’re adding a light mode (not removing dark mode). Statistics show 50% of users prefer light mode.
“Privacy is for everyone. Not just for those who prefer dark mode.”
Sudo (a dark mode extremist): “Light mode should be banned.” (He’s joking. Mostly.)
Q: How does the design communicate privacy guarantees without technical jargon?
Three answers:
- IP address display - users can verify with external checkers
- Self-checker functions - ad blocker counters, internal IP checks
- Onboarding questionnaire (future) - “Are you traveling? At home? Streaming? Gaming?” - sets connection templates automatically
Also coming: “Nerd Mode” - one-click verbose log viewer for advanced users who want to see exactly what’s happening under the hood.
Q: What privacy apps inspired this direction?
“GrapheneOS settings on Android. Google Maps - not the maps part, but how intuitive the interaction feels. We want Nym to be the great VPN app, just like Google Maps is the great maps app.”
Q: Where’s the map?
“Coming in the next release after this one. We want to cook it until it’s really good - not release a buggy map that always shows the same location.”
Light Mode Debate
Sudo and Hux had a passionate exchange about light mode. Sudo threatened to “ban” it (jokingly). Hux argued:
“Half of people prefer light mode, half prefer dark mode - statistically proven. We deserve a light mode.”
The Figma board includes both dark and light mode designs. Sudo gave the light mode slides a “big red cross” (also jokingly… probably).
Coming Up Tomorrow
Noise Signal Radio with Christian Grothoff (founder of GNU TALER) hosted by Alexis Russell - discussing why TALER matters as a homegrown European open-source payment solution competing with CBDCs.
Useful Links
- NymHub - community resources and tools
- Figma Feedback Board -leave your feedback on the designs (open for 24+ hours)
Timestamps
- 00:02:58 — Hux’s journey: from indoctrinated community member to Head of Product
- 00:08:23 — Current NymVPN features (the engineering marvels)
- 00:10:11 — The problem: too complex for newcomers
- 00:16:42 — The vision: folding button, IP display, map
- 00:23:32 — Three states of the connection button
- 00:28:36 — Light mode debate
- 00:36:03 — Figma board open for feedback
- 00:48:49 — Q&A: communicating privacy guarantees
- 00:54:07 — Q&A: privacy app inspirations
Watch the full recording:
YouTube Link
Big thanks to Hux for the openness and to everyone who gave feedback - keep it coming on the Figma board!
See you next Thursday! 