Nothing beats a calm morning with a warm cup of coffee, soft rays peeking through the curtains with thoughts forming without any sense of urgency. Morning Face Studio (MFS) seeks to capture these unnoticed moments by inspiring people to slow down and embrace the present through their art.
Behind the studio are twin sisters, Jo-Ann and Sue-Ann, 36, whose creative journey began at a young age. With a shared love for drawing, they later pursued Multimedia Design at Swinburne University and went on to become graphic designers after that. Still, the desire to create something of their own never left.
They explored different paths, from selling clothes, creating content, and simply following where their interests led them. Along the way, they casually shared their drawings and paintings online, just for the joy of it.
When people began to resonate with their illustrations, something shifted. What started as a personal outlet slowly grew into a community. They realised they were not alone in their appreciation for quiet mornings and gentle living, and that connection became the foundation of Morning Face Studio.
They reminded themselves to take a breather in the busy landscape by celebrating everyday moments, all the while contributing in nurturing a more connected and expressive creative community.
Their products are often tucked into quiet, thoughtfully curated spaces that mirror their essence. Selected locations include Coby Cafe and Bakehouse by Breadsman in Kuching, and Tsutaya Bookstore in Johor Bahru. They are also available online on Shopee, across Malaysia and also Singapore.
In this exclusive interview with Sarawak Tribune, Jo-Ann and Sue-Ann shared their inspirations in daily routines, finding beauty in managing their creative challenges and future path for their artworks.
Sarawak Tribune: In today’s fast-paced digital world, Morning Face Studio feels like a pause. What inspired the brand to revolve around these unhurried moments?
Sue-Ann: We have always been drawn to a slower, quieter way of living. In a world that feels very fast-paced, we realise how much we value calm and peace.
MFS actually started from our love for mornings. A good, slow morning with a cup of coffee, a book, and that time with yourself can really shape how the rest of the day feels. It’s something small, but very important to us.
Over time, we realised that this idea of “slow mornings” connects deeply with living a more intentional, unhurried life. Through MFS, we want to share that feeling and remind people that it’s okay to take things slow.
A lot of our designs revolve around simple morning things like coffee, reading, breakfast and the joy of staying home. We like the idea of noticing and appreciating these small moments.
As an illustrator, how do you navigate creative blocks while maintaining consistency and growth for your brand?
Jo-Ann: We’re still figuring this out honestly. We would love to be more consistent but we have learned not to force it too much.
Instead of focusing on producing things on a strict timeline, we focus more on creating things we genuinely like. When we hit a creative block, we try not to put too much pressure on ourselves. It can mean that we just need a break or a shift.
We usually have multiple projects going on at the same time. If we get stuck on one, we move to another. For example, if we’re working on packaging and get stuck, we’ll switch to designing stickers or tees instead. It helps keep things fun, and often ideas come back when we’re not forcing them.
Many young creatives struggle to find their niche. What helped you define the identity of Morning Face Studio?
Sue-Ann: For us, it wasn’t about trying to be completely original or different. It was more about paying attention to what we’re drawn to. If we see something we like (from other artists and brands), feeling inspired, we would ask ourselves why we like it and what we would change to make it feel more like us.
With MFS, we realise we really love monochrome, messy, hand-sketched visuals. We often found ourselves saying, “I wish this was in black and white” when looking at other designs. That became a clear direction for us. So defining our identity was really just about leaning into our preferences and making something we personally enjoy.
Your products are available online as well as in quieter spaces such as bookstores and humble cafes. How do you approach reaching and expanding your audience?
Jo-Ann: We’ve been really fortunate that many of the spaces we’re in, like bookstores and cafes, found us organically. I think it comes down to alignment.
We design based on what we love and how we live, so it naturally attracts people who resonate with the same things. In a way, we are our own target audience. So when we think about where to be, we always ask ourselves, “where would we enjoy discovering something like this?”
What has been the most rewarding moment since starting the brand, and what challenges have shaped your journey?
Sue-Ann: The most rewarding moments are definitely meeting our customers in real life, especially at pop-ups. To see there are other people who see our designs and say they relate to it feels really special. Knowing that something we created reflects how someone else feels too, as if it has connected with them on a personal level.
As for challenges, the business side is something we’re still learning. We love designing, but running a business is a whole different skill set. It’s something we’re slowly growing into so we can share our work with more people.
Are there any future plans or goals you hope to achieve through your work?
Jo-Ann: We would love to explore more creative and experimental products and push our designs a bit further while still staying true to our style.
We also hope to grow Morning Face Studio internationally and reach more people who resonate with what we do. Expanding into more lifestyle and home products is something we’re interested in as well. We hope, by romanticising mornings and minuscule everyday routines through our designs, could inspire others to fall in love with their mornings too.
