No sales Pitch
Dem-Con Companies, a Minnesota-based, family-owned business, has been a leader in waste management and recycling solutions since 1965. Known for their commitment to sustainability and community education, they approached us with an exciting challenge: develop an educational app that teaches kids about recycling in a fun and engaging way while also streamlining their awareness efforts.
Sounds simple, right? Well, not quite.
Before the app, Dem-Con staff were spending 50+ man-hours every month physically demonstrating the recycling process to schools, communities, and corporate partners. While effective, it was time-consuming and limited their ability to scale outreach. They needed a solution that could deliver the same educational impact—without the logistical overhead.
Dem-Con envisioned an app that would:
- Educate kids on recycling through interactive learning.
- Engage them with playful yet intuitive design.
- Ensure a seamless experience across mobile and desktop platforms.
- Reduce reliance on manual demonstrations, freeing up staff for other key initiatives.
But making an app simple is anything but easy. The UI had to be clear and engaging yet not overwhelming. Striking that balance required countless design iterations—tweaking colors, animations, and object placements based on feedback from educators and young users alike.
The app was developed using Unity, giving us the flexibility to create dynamic visuals and smooth interactions. While mobile deployment went smoothly, Dem-Con had another request—a desktop version.
Expanding an app designed for touchscreens to work effortlessly on desktops was no small feat. By optimizing Unity’s cross-platform capabilities, we ensured the experience remained consistent and engaging, whether it was used in classrooms, at home, or at recycling centers.
After rounds of fine-tuning and real-world testing, the final product exceeded expectations.
- Kids loved it – they found it fun and easy to navigate.
- Teachers embraced it as an effective tool to reinforce recycling habits.
- Dem-Con was thrilled, not only with the flawless transition between platforms but also with the time savings—50+ staff hours saved each month that could now be redirected toward higher-impact initiatives.
The app has empowered Dem-Con to reach a wider audience, delivering the same quality of education without the need for in-person demonstrations.
The biggest lesson? Creating simplicity requires complexity behind the scenes. But with the right strategy, a dedicated team, and a client who values quality, magic happens.
The ‘Sort It’ app is now helping kids understand the importance of recycling—one playful interaction at a time while allowing Dem-Con to scale their educational efforts more efficiently.
Got an educational app idea? Let's work together and turn it into a game-changer.
👉 Request a Free Strategy Session | Check out the Sort It app by Dem-Con
