CardMill addresses a longstanding challenge in collectible card culture: how to efficiently organize large personal collections without relying on slow manual methods or inaccessible commercial systems. Existing tools underserve serious collectors and competitive players, leaving a clear design gap for something fast, intuitive, and approachable.

Enabled by recent advances in edge computing and real-time vision, the device reimagines at-home sorting as an integrated, seamless process. Cards are loaded into a top hopper, separated by a custom feed mechanism, and scanned in motion by a high-resolution camera. Identified cards are then sorted into compartments based on user-defined criteria such as name, type, or power level, all visible through a transparent housing.

The user journey is simple: place cards, select sorting preferences on a touchscreen, and watch the system bring order to the collection. The industrial design merges laboratory precision with nostalgic transparency. Inspired by early-2000s tech, the translucent green cover reveals the sorting process while evoking a playful sense of trust. Exposed screws, clean lines, and tight tolerances reflect mechanical clarity, while its compact footprint fits easily on a desk or table. By restoring visibility, control, and delight to card sorting, CardMill transforms a tedious chore into a calm, engaging ritual that reconnects users to the joy of collecting.