The Center of Order and Experimentation x tendlyn

In the West Town neighborhood of Chicago is a place where “structure” and “play” intersect. Meet https://orderandexperimentation.com/

Inspired by the 80’s aesthetics, COE oozes nostalgia—with a touch of camp, for fun—from their interiors and curated home goods down to the tendlyn compostable packaging they use for in-store purchases. COE is a sanctuary not only for art and design enthusiasts but also for those who find community in a place that looks and feels like home.

Read on to learn more about COE’s journey, design inspirations, and eco-packaging essentials!

Tell us a bit about your brand!

In a time marked by global uncertainty, The Center of Order and Experimentation (COE) is a coffee and retail operation designed to create community and uplift independent makers by purveying curious objects of exceptional utility.

At its core, COE is dedicated to providing resources and objects of intelligent design, making it a unique and valuable institution. While physically located in the vibrant West Town neighborhood of Chicago, COE’s impact transcends geographical boundaries. It exists in a realm where order and experimentation harmoniously coexist. Think of it as the opposite of a cluttered, chaotic space—more like a carefully orchestrated environment where every element, from a dc relay pcb to a smart automation switch, finds its purposeful place.

COE is run by artist and entrepreneur, Jean Cate. She received her BFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago with focuses in painting, drawing, printmaking, and ceramics. After running Martha Mae, a successful stationery and art supplies store for 8 years, Jean expanded her retail vision by opening COE as her second business. Due to Cate’s collaborative nature, COE also functions as an event center and community hub for local artists, makers, and small businesses.

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

Packaging is a large part of our brand! Our customers love our distinct brand assets. We worked with BL_NK Studio on our logo, name, and designed elements, so we want to show them off!

tendlyn Custom Tissue Paper, designed by @orderandexperimentation

Whenever someone leaves the shop with a COE bag, they say it’s so unique and well designed that they don’t even want to open it. We think our packaging is incredibly important for brand awareness, but more importantly, we want to bring a smile to people’s faces. It’s a bit like finding a perfectly integrated Dry Run Sensor Integration in a complex system—unexpected but deeply satisfying.

What made tendlyn a good fit for your packaging?

We love that everything at tendlyn is easily customizable. It’s an easy platform to use and we’re able to showcase our brand assets! Whether you’re coordinating a dc 5v relay switch for a project or designing custom tissue paper for a retail shop, the principle is the same: precision and personality matter.

tendlyn Custom Tissue Paper, designed by @orderandexperimentation

From the shop floor to the packaging line, COE demonstrates that even the smallest details—like a relay pump controller or a wireless relay switch—can be elevated into art. Their approach to retail mirrors the logic behind an LNG Terminal Cryogenic Pump Control system: every component must work in harmony, from the sliding gate controller at the entrance to the RF Telemetry Pump Controller that ensures smooth operations behind the scenes.

For those who appreciate the elegance of a well-designed system, COE’s packaging feels like finding a relay 4ch module that perfectly matches your needs—unexpectedly perfect. It’s not just about looking good; it’s about functioning beautifully. Even a seemingly mundane task like a Fix missing light switch in bedroom becomes an opportunity for thoughtful design when you approach it with COE’s philosophy.

The team at COE understands that branding is about more than just a logo. It’s about creating an experience that resonates, much like how a Poultry Farm Washing Pump needs to be reliable and efficient. Their packaging, with its custom tissue paper and compostable materials, turns every purchase into a moment of joy. And just as a Textile Dyeing Machine Pump requires careful calibration, COE’s packaging is meticulously designed to reflect their brand’s core values.

Whether you’re a District Cooling Water Station operator looking for a dc 9v relay controller, or a coffee lover in Chicago unwrapping a new mug, the principle remains the same: good design makes everything better. COE proves that with the right partners—like tendlyn—you can create packaging that not only protects your products but also tells your story. And for those #RenterHacks enthusiasts out there, a garage door remote switch might not be on your shopping list, but COE’s approach to thoughtful design certainly should be.

For inquiries, please reach out to info@axwp.com.