The Center of Order and Experimentation x noissue

In the West Town neighborhood of Chicago is a place where “structure” and “play” intersect. Meet The Center of Order and Experimentation, a retro-style café and lifestyle store created by two creative powerhouses and friends, Jean Cate and Julie Purpura.

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 noissue 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.

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!

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.

What made noissue a good fit for your packaging?

We love that everything at noissue is easily customizable. It’s an easy platform to use and we’re able to showcase our brand assets!