B2C · Mobile
Home Decluttering App
An AI-powered home decluttering app designed for simplicity, sustainability, and smarter decisions.
Sorta AI
Time
Feb 2025 - Nov 2025
Location
San Francisco, CA
Team
Alina Zhang
Amanda Liu
Annie Zhou
Ashna Damani
Nivek Cao
Zibo Men
Responsibilities
Co-Founder
Creative Lead
Project Manager
UX Designer
Expertise
UI/UX Design
Brand Design
Systems Mapping
User Research
Product Strategy
Design Challenge
Backgound
As of 2025, the average American household contains 300,000 items, and 54% are overwhelmed by it. Clutter is linked to stress, frustration, and anxiety, as reported by the American Psychological Association. Current “Throwaway Culture” prompted by e-commerce and fast fashion further worsens the rapid accumulation of items that are often one-time use only.
Core Features
01
AI-Guided Low-Barrier Entry Point
User Pain Point
The mental load of decision-fatigue makes it difficult to even get started.
Our Solution
Sorta’s AI-powered guide helps users break past the initial friction of decluttering. Users snap a photo of a messy corner and answer a few quick questions. Sorta then generates a lightweight plan that categorize items to keep, relocate, or discard.
02
Image Recognition-Based Item Checklist
User Pain Point
It’s hard to stay focused on a tedious, time-consuming chore like decluttering.
Our Solution
This feature turns the messy space itself into an interactive, visual workflow. Users sort items directly on the image with color-coded tags. Simultaneously, a progress bar tracks completion, reinforcing momentum and reducing uncertainty around time spent.
03
Before & After Decluttering Comparison
User Pain Point
Without visible progress, it’s hard for users to stay motivated to maintain a clean space.
Our Solution
Users take a photo at the end of each session to compare against their starting point. This visual record helps users log progress, save it in Sorta or their local album, and share it with others for motivation, which supports long-term habits.
04
Integration to Resale/Donation Platforms
User Pain Point
The logistics of reselling or donating items are too time-consuming, so users default to tossing them out.
Our Solution
Sorta streamlines resale and donation by handling the end-to-end setup for users. Items identified in the photo are matched with relevant platforms, auto-priced using comparable listings, and prepared with generated images and copy — ready to post in one click.
05
Bonus Features
Voice-Guided Sessions
Hands-free, step-by-step voice guidance for a more seamless session experience.
Household Account
Collaborate on decluttering tasks via shared access for everyone in the household.
Unlock Sortie Characters
Custom characters for different styles, turning decluttering into a playful, habit-forming experience.
Deep Learning Mode
By logging each session, Sortie learns user habits, finds patterns, and delivers tailored suggestions.
Impact
We reached out to 20+ beta users for in-depth feedback over longitudinal studies. 90% would organize again with Sorta, and here’s why:
Users rated the tool a 6/7 in terms of helpfulness
80% found it faster and easier to organize with Sorta
Users took 10-15 minutes to organize corners that used to take 30+ minutes
Decluttering Before & After's
“It helped me manage my ADHD more effectively.”
“It gave me new inspiration.”
“Super easy and helpful. I just needed directions.”
Strategy
Developing the Go-To-Market Strategy for Sorta
We positioned Sorta at the intersection of home organization and lifestyle products, targeting an estimated $820M market entry.
Identifying Marketing Channels to Reach Core Users
We leveraged the rise of social-first lifestyle trends (e.g., “CleanTok”) to meet users where they already engage. Growth channels include paid social, influencer collaborations, and community-driven platforms like Reddit and Facebook groups.
Implementing a Tiered Pricing Model
We introduced a basic and premium subscription to differentiate feature access while maintaining sustainable revenue. This model also helps manage operational costs, including AI usage, as the product scales.
Design Process
Discovering the Cluttered User Journey
By mapping out the original user journey of decluttering without any intervention, we identified that the biggest challenges occurred when users were (1) procrastinating it; and (2) actually doing it. These touchpoints are exactly where Sorta steps in.
Embedding AI at Key Decluttering Moments
We designed a user flow that keeps their decluttering process front-and-center while introducing a simple item system. By mapping their key decision-making points onto easy, AI-assisted steps on screen, we minimized original friction points and gamified an originally tedious household chore.
Crafting a Fun, Effortless Design Library
Using light green and aqua gradients with a friendly sans serif font, we created a consistent visual system that feels effortless, enjoyable, and sustainable.
Building the Brand Mascot — Sortie
Sortie is the playful yet dependable little box that helps take care of users’ items. As the face and voice of our app, Sortie adds a joyful spark to the process of decluttering. I led the design and motion graphics that made Sortie come to life.
Reflection
01
Enable user overrides within AI-suggested decluttering flows
Allow users to easily adjust or reclassify items during AI-guided steps, supporting autonomy and reducing friction when suggestions don’t fully align.
02
Introduce lightweight in-session engagement
Integrate optional features like Spotify playlists or podcasts to make decluttering sessions more enjoyable and emotionally sustaining.
03
Develop context-aware home mapping to support sustained habits
Extend beyond single-corner sessions with multi-space tracking, badges, or streaks to reinforce long-term decluttering patterns.
04
Build community features to support accountability and exchange
Enable users to share progress, exchange second-hand items, and declutter alongside peers to increase motivation and reduce isolation.