Enhance Countdown Timer with Animations, Progress Indicators, and Completion State

[magic-peach]

The current countdown timer on the homepage successfully displays the remaining time until the conference starts. However, it uses static number updates without animations or visual feedback, which limits user engagement and reduces the perceived polish of the interface.

Improving the timer with modern animation and UX enhancements would significantly improve the overall user experience and make the landing page feel more dynamic and professional.

Current Behavior

• Timer displays days, hours, minutes, and seconds correctly
• Numbers update without animation
• No visual feedback when values change
• No completion state when countdown reaches zero
• No urgency indication as the event approaches

Proposed Improvements

1. Add Flip or Smooth Transition Animation

Animate number changes to create a smoother and more engaging visual effect.

Benefits:

• Improves perceived quality
• Makes countdown feel more dynamic

2. Add Visual Progress Indicators

Add circular progress rings or visual indicators showing progression of time units.

Benefits:

• Provides intuitive visual representation
• Improves UX clarity

3. Add Urgency-Based Styling

Change colors or styles when countdown approaches important thresholds (example: last 7 days, last 24 hours, last 10 minutes).

Benefits:

• Creates urgency and anticipation
• Improves user engagement

4. Add Countdown Completion State

When countdown reaches zero, replace timer with a clear call-to-action.

Benefits:

• Prevents timer from displaying negative values
• Improves user guidance

5. Improve Accessibility and Timezone Handling

Ensure countdown works correctly across different timezones and is accessible.

Benefits:

• Improves reliability globally
• Supports accessibility standards

Expected Outcome

• Smooth animated countdown timer
• Improved visual feedback and engagement
• Clear transition when countdown completes
• More professional and polished landing page

Acceptance Criteria

1. Timer values animate smoothly when updated
2. Visual indicators or progress animations are added
3. Timer handles completion state properly
4. Timer remains accurate and performant
5. No breaking changes to existing functionality