My story begins with around two decades as a designer, building brands and leading creative teams. When I moved into mental health work in 2024 I saw the weight people carry. I witnessed the exhaustion, the internal battles, and the need for safe spaces. I realised I wanted to create something that combines both worlds: creativity and care.
Kai and Mumu’s Studio grew from that idea – a small corner where art, journaling, and inclusivity meet. My goal is simple: to build a community that celebrates imperfection, creativity, and small acts of self-care.
My studies in Korean and Japanese have deepened my appreciation for the cultures that inspire much of my design. This includes their emphasis on symbolism and story-telling. You’ll find small nods to these influences throughout my work. This includes some text as well as illustrative influences. Kai came to life as the embodiment of that idea. I wanted a character without boundaries of gender or race, someone anyone could see themselves in. Their companion Mumu, is inspired by one of my own mischievous cats. Mumu reminds me of the love and entertainment we can feel from our fur-babies.
I’m a little chaotic by nature. The kind of person who takes on too much, feels everything deeply, and journals to make sense of it all. Switching to a Hobonichi planner in 2025 changed how I work and reflect. It gives me a way to bring structure to my own noise. Through my designs, I hope to share that. It’s not as an ideal, but a process: creative, imperfect, and real.
This studio is my dream project. A quiet rebellion against burnout, workplace toxicity and discrimination. It’s a love letter to self expression. It’s a home for anyone who wants to build a slower, kinder way to live. Each design, colour way, and story carries a little piece of that purpose. It’s a way to connect, to calm, and to remind us to be kind to ourselves.
Join My Story
I hope you will join my story, in order to help your own. Please feel free to contact me with ideas and requests. I may not be able to produce them all, but if I will, if I can.
Look books? You can visit me over at Books the Word for reviews and playlist companions.