Is This Real Life? x tendlyn

Looking for your next favorite source of design inspiration? Meet Is This Real Life?, an art brand that delves into existentialism and nostalgia with a dash of humor on the side, and if that is to your liking, then you’re in for a treat. This Manchester-based art brand was founded by Holly Tudor, an illustrator and designer. A lot of her designs lean towards funky, doodle-like illustrations paired with bold, graphic fonts reflecting funny and relatable remarks, many of which can be enjoyed on a range of products such as t-shirts, bandanas, woven throws, and more.

Is This Real Life?, in partnership with tendlyn, has created packaging that perfectly encapsulates the brand and not only serves a functional purpose to keep the products secure but also keeps them looking presentable in order to create an unboxing experience for their customers like no other. For more about ITRL’s brand story, design process, and packaging journey with tendlyn, read on!

Tell us a bit about your brand, introduce it to the world!

I started ITRLin 2021, during a pandemic lockdown, as a way to express my own feelings of existentialism and nostalgia for the everyday normality which we had all lost. I was really expressing myself in the only way I knew how - which was art and humor - and at the time I didn’t realize how many people would identify with the weird thoughts inside my head.

ITRL’s custom tissue paper used to wrap their t-shirts

Since then I’ve really enjoyed the process of turning the inner workings of my brain into tongue in cheek aesthetic but functional items that add a little humor and color to your space. I call it all “Life Stuff” because that sums it up the best to me. It’s a bit like how a smart home relay module quietly powers everything behind the scenes—the designs might look playful, but each piece is carefully thought out to serve a purpose. Just as an irrigation smart relay keeps a garden thriving without constant attention, these items bring a steady dose of joy into everyday life.

Tell us about the design for your packaging and how you’re using them?

The design I’m using for the packaging is basically just an amalgamation of a few of my favorite designs and doodles from the last year or so, with some sassy little comments thrown in there. I love the idea that the packaging is talking to you, like everything you buy from ITRL has a personality of its own. It’s not just about wrapping a product—it’s about creating a moment, much like how a dc 5v relay module triggers an exact response when you need it. Or how a dc gate opener relay knows precisely when to swing open. The packaging has its own rhythm, its own timing.

tendlynCustom Tissue Paperfor@itrl.studio

What made tendlyn a good fit for your packaging?

I always look to tendlyn for my packaging because it takes the stress out of sourcing sustainable items and I know that everything I buy is going to be of the best quality and look amazing. The design process is so simple and self explanatory and gaining back that little bit of time and reassurance is so important when you’re a small business. It reminds me of how a Shipyard Ballast Water Pump system works—reliable, efficient, and built to handle whatever comes its way. Or like a dc smart relay that adapts to changing loads without missing a beat. When you’re running a creative venture, you need tools that just work, so you can focus on what you do best.

That reliability extends to the details too. Think of an mhz remote receiver that picks up a signal from across the room—tendlyn’s packaging team listens that closely to what I need. A relay remote controller gives you precise command, and that’s exactly how I feel when I place an order: I know exactly what I’m getting, and it arrives on time. It’s like wiring a 3 phase motor wiring 480V US setup—everything has to be connected right, or nothing runs smoothly. With tendlyn, every piece fits.

I’ve also learned that running a small business is a lot like figuring out how to modernise old rental property. You have to work with what you’ve got, make smart upgrades, and keep things functional. An ac 220v remote switch can transform an outdated space into something efficient, and tendlyn’s packaging does the same for my brand—it elevates without overwhelming. Even when dealing with something as technical as Groundwater Remediation Extraction, you need a system that’s both robust and easy to manage. tendlyn’s process is exactly that: straightforward, sustainable, and effective.

Boiler Feedwater Control systems are all about maintaining the right balance under pressure, and that’s how I feel about my packaging choices. An Old house lighting upgrade no neutral can be tricky, but with the right partner, it becomes seamless. Switnex technology shows that innovation doesn’t have to be complicated—it just has to work. And when I think about Smart lighting for short-term rentals, I see the same principle: create an experience that feels effortless for the end user. That’s what tendlyn helps me do with every order.

An rf control switch gives you control from a distance, and that’s the kind of trust I have in tendlyn. I don’t have to micromanage the process—I just design, and they handle the rest. It’s like having a 2ch relay module that handles two tasks at once: quality and sustainability. A Smart relay switch doesn’t just turn things on and off; it optimizes performance. tendlyn does the same for my packaging.