digital compost

What Inspired the Project

Digital Compost was born from a larger initiative I founded called Cirkular—a sustainability platform built to reframe how Gen Z engages with consumption. In our hyper-digital world, we’re constantly creating and storing content without thinking about the long-term energy and environmental cost of data storage. I wanted to challenge the assumption that digital space is infinite, and instead design a platform that encourages users to let go, reduce, and be intentional.

The idea of composting—breaking things down to their essential form—became the perfect metaphor. What if we could apply that to digital content?

How I Built It

I designed and prototyped Digital Compost as a mobile experience where users upload their own content (photos and videos), which are then compressed using dithering algorithms—reducing file sizes by up to 80%. That makes it dramatically lighter to host, and significantly reduces the app’s energy use.

Users don’t have profiles. Once a file is uploaded, it becomes part of a randomized batch that anyone can view—10 pieces of content per hour, 5 videos and 5 photos. After you view your batch, you’re encouraged to take a break from the app. All content is automatically deleted every six months to keep our digital footprint low.

I leaned on visual metaphors: dithering as a textured signifier of compression and decay, and Circular Green—a bold, expressive color that rejects the soft greens of traditional sustainability branding.

What I Learned

• That impermanence can be powerful
  
• That Gen Z responds to aesthetic clarity and ethical alignment
  
• That limits—on storage, visibility, and time—can be tools for design, not obstacles
  

Challenges I Faced

One of the biggest challenges was figuring out how to explain “digital composting” in a way that felt intuitive, not abstract. I also had to strike a balance between visual minimalism and expressive identity—ensuring the app felt clean, but not sterile. Creating space for creativity, without contributing to digital waste, was the central tension I had to constantly navigate.

What’s Next

Digital Compost is part of a growing conversation about sustainable digital design. As I continue to build out Cirkular’s ecosystem, I see this app as a prototype for how we can radically rethink creative sharing without excess.

Built With

• figma