Hone - From PC Optimizer to 1,500,000+ Gamer's Companion
16× revenue growth in 18 months with strategic redesign
- • 1150% revenue growth within 16 months
- • Increased monthly active users from 12,000 to 200,000+
- • Improved onboarding completion and optimization application rates
- • Boosted optimization runs by 36% through clearer workflows
- • Extended average session duration from 25 seconds to 3 minutes
- • Reduced dev/design handoff time with a scalable design system
Context
When I joined Hone, it was a raw prototype. Functional but untrustworthy, confusing, and unappealing to gamers. The vision: transform it into a trusted, everyday companion for PC gamers that feels as intuitive as a controller and as powerful as a top-tier GPU.
Challenges
Users didn't understand what Hone did or why they should trust it
The onboarding was confusing and failed to communicate value clearly.
Workflows for core actions were clunky
Benchmarks and optimizations required multiple complex steps.
Industry stigma around "PC boosters" hurt credibility
Performance tools had a reputation for overpromising and underdelivering.
What I Did
Rebuilt onboarding to clearly communicate value in under 60 seconds
Created a streamlined first-time experience that immediately showed users what Hone could do for their specific setup.
Simplified optimization workflows from multiple steps to one click
Reduced friction by automating complex processes while maintaining user control and transparency.
Added social proof, expert endorsements, and visual personality
Integrated testimonials from pro gamers and content creators to build trust and credibility in the gaming community.
Designed a scalable system to support rapid feature launches
Built a flexible design system that could accommodate new features without compromising the core experience.
Key Takeaways
Clear value communication and simplified workflows can dramatically improve user adoption and retention.
Building trust through social proof and expert endorsements is crucial in competitive markets.
A well-designed system can accelerate feature development while maintaining quality.