BRAND

Mahjong Row & Co.

PROJECTS

Brand Identity
Product Design
Packaging Design

ROLES

Creative Director
Designer
Illustrator
Photographer

Made for play.
Designed for the home.

Founded by Tricia Kane, Mahjong Row & Co. creates thoughtfully-designed mahjong sets and accessories inspired by beautiful interiors. While designed for the American style of play, the brand is rooted in a deep appreciation for the Chinese game and the rich cultural traditions that continue to shape it.

From our very first conversation, Tricia and I shared a vision of creating heirloom-quality pieces that felt equally at home on a table or as part of the living space. Inspired by earthy tones, natural textures, and quiet luxury, we set out to build a complete brand from the ground up—from the visual identity and tile illustrations to mats, accessories, packaging, photography, and launch content.

For me, the project also carried a deeply personal significance. My family is Taiwanese, and mahjong has long been woven into our family history. Growing up, my mom shared stories of returning home from school to my grandparents' apartment in Taiwan, where neighbors gathered nightly around the mahjong table, the clack of tiles throughout the home alongside the smell of dinner wafting out of the kitchen. My grandmother knew her tiles so intimately she could identify them by touch alone. That history became important to my design process, inspiring me to honor the visual language and spirit of traditional mahjong while creating something for the American game.

The details tell
the story

Tricia and I were introduced through a mutual contact and quickly discovered we shared more than a love of beautiful interiors. With our Texas roots and appreciation for craftsmanship, collaboration came easily from day one. We were both drawn to earthy palettes, rich textures, and a quieter aesthetic. At a time when much of the American mahjong market skewed colorful, bright, and traditionally feminine, there was an opportunity to create something different.

As the collection began to take shape, we found ourselves making many of the same creative choices. When selecting our favorite flowers for the tiles, we both picked peonies which inspired the Double Peony tile. My illustration later became part of the brand's signature wordmark lockup.

Research before rendering

Before putting pencil to paper, I immersed myself in the history and physicality of the game. I wandered through San Francisco's Chinatown, purchasing mahjong sets in a variety of sizes to understand how different tile proportions and weights felt in my hands. I studied my mom's mahjong set, observing the artwork, symbolism, and composition of each tile. Because the origins of the game was so important to me, every design decision began with learning before creating.

I began sketching each illustration by hand before refining them in Adobe Illustrator. Countless hours were spent comparing Pantone swatches with Tricia, adjusting color relationships, until the collection felt cohesive.

Sold out in minutes

The first run of the Cypress Tile Sets sold out
in less than two weeks, followed by multiple
limited-edition drops that sold out in minutes

16K

Instagram followers
in the first 6 months of launch

“I met Monica through one of my husband’s business contacts. The three of us have created a partnership rooted in shared values and creating beauty with purpose. Monica’s incredible talent and eye for design have enabled us to launch this dream family business.”

- Tricia Kane, Founder, Mahjong Row & Co.

“Hi, we just received our order… OMG… The most beautiful tiles on the market! These were a surprise for my husband. He LOVES them. When he was unboxing them, he said, “look, they’re like tiny pieces of art” and they are! They’re gorgeous!”

- Marsha R.