On designing nature sounds, inspiration, and couples at work

Earth.fm has launched a mobile app – and we couldn’t be more excited. Two designers put their stamp on the look of the app. We’ve caught up with them to find out about the process behind creating designs for nature sounds, what inspires them, and what it’s like to work together as a couple in the design field. Yes, Breanna (Bree) and Ethan Fender are not only the amazing designers and illustrators behind Earth.fm’s new look, but are also happily married in the US Midwest. 

Bree is “a SoCal born and raised Latin digital designer”, dog lover, head-banger, and gaming enthusiast. She has a 9 to 5 job as a senior digital designer, but also collaborates with Ethan on freelance projects at Courier Design, creating summer-inspired animated illustrations, or learning new design and animation skills. 

Ethan specializes in logos, iconography, packaging, illustrations, and other 2D services. He’s “obsessed with the mid-century modern design aesthetic from the 60s-70s”, and his work is inspired by nature, agriculture, medieval fantasy, dungeon synth, sci-fi, metal, video games, and vintage matchbooks (“90s kid”).
But let’s dig deeper.

First of all, thank you for the beautiful logo. Can you tell us a bit about the process behind creating it? How do you distill the essence of a ‘product’ into a design?

Ethan: Thanks for the kind words! The process behind it was always seeing the tree as the core element of Earth. [Earth.fm founder] Catalin and I discussed the outlined shapes around it as a way to convey ‘sound’. It also looks like a cloud, which plays into nature even more. When I think of Earth.fm, I imagine being still and present with soothing tones; we were able to capture that feeling within a few iterations.

Breanna: My process behind the animation for Earth.fm was to create an animation that feels like the flow of nature breathing in and out.

I understand designing nature elements is your speciality. Any stories behind choosing this particular road?

Ethan: There isn’t a particular story since nature has always been present, and I hope it always will be. Since I was a kid, I have drawn things I saw outside. Humans are deeply connected to nature, and we should consider what it teaches us and how it makes us feel. Plants and animals always surprise me with how unique they are.

Breanna: Designing nature elements is more of Ethan’s specialty versus mine. But when I do choose some sort of nature element to illustrate and animate, it’s usually tied to the nature that I was surrounded by growing up in California. Doing that is nostalgic and makes me feel closer to home.

If I hear rain, I see a mossy forest with a secluded cabin. If I listen to crickets, I see a starry sky with some trees as a border.

Are walks and hikes part of the process? 

Ethan: Hiking is a part of the thinking process; I get a different clarity from being outside, which I don’t when home. A lot of times, I see shapes or colors outside that otherwise I might miss. It’s more of an opportunity to reset my headspace and slow everything down.

Breanna: Walks and hikes have been a part of the inspiration behind designs. I find inspiration in nature’s color palette and, for animation, the way nature flows.

Ethan, can you share some of the most inspiring walks or places in your life?

Ethan: Utica, Ohio, where I grew up, was the original spot for inspiration because it’s where my taste for drawing all started. Being in the countryside made it easy because we didn’t have to drive to hike. My dad made a trail in our woods! Animals and tree cover surrounded us. 

I love the waterfalls and trails in Multnomah Falls, Oregon. That place is magical! Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve and the Blue Ridge Trail in California are two places my wife and I have explored. The mountainous terrain always makes me feel like I’m in the video game Skyrim. Epic!

As a designer, what do you see when listening to nature?

Ethan: That depends on the sound. If I hear crows, I see them swarming around cornfields for food. If I hear rain, I see a mossy forest with a secluded cabin. If I listen to crickets, I see a starry sky with some trees as a border.

Breanna: When I listen to nature sounds I feel like I’m transported to a place I’ve visited before, or I imagine what a place looks like, whether it’s the beach or forest, etc. Listening to nature sounds provides a safe, calming space in my head when I’m working in a stressful or anxious state. My favorite sounds of nature are the crashing of ocean waves on the shore. Ocean-wave sounds bring me to falling asleep while tanning at the beach, and a peaceful state of mind where I feel like I can breathe deeply.

Listening to nature sounds provides a safe, calming space in my head when I’m working in a stressful or anxious state.

What about music? Does it help you, as a designer? 

Breanna: Music helps with my design flow too. Whether it’s classical, pop, rap, metal, etc, the music choice I make has a lot to do with the type of work I’m doing. If I know I’m in a flow and don’t have to think about my creative process, I will usually choose rap or metal when working on monotonous design work. Chillhop and pop are more tied to non-monotonous design work.

Ethan: Music is very powerful when it comes to my focus. I play different music based on how I feel. Also, it puts me in another realm outside the one where we must pay bills and taxes. True freedom.

Where else do you find inspiration? And what are some of the biggest influences on your creative life? 

Breanna: I find inspiration in music, specifically in people who make music and think about themselves as a brand. The Midnight, Taylor Swift, and Sabrina Carpenter are a couple of my faves that inspire me. I’m also inspired by video games such as Gris, Ori, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Spiritfarer, and Neva. Lastly, I find brands are a big influence on my creative life, such as Parch, Vacation Inc., Mandrn, Desserto, and Mlouye.

Ethan: Music (metal and dungeon synth), video games (Halo, Destiny 2, Skyrim), vintage matchbooks, old design books, and ancient art are my biggest influences as a designer. Also Stefan Kanchev, Paul Ibou, and Cruz Novillo: designers from a golden age with true discipline. My favorite movie series is The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

What’s it like to work and create as a couple? Any advice for other couples thinking about working together?

Breanna: Working together as a couple is fun and refreshing. I work a 9-to-5 without my husband, so when we do work together on projects it’s always a great experience. We both have a mindset of wanting the work to be the best we put out, and have that same energy when we work together. It’s awesome. 

When we work together on projects, we are open and honest with feedback, but more importantly we are receptive to that feedback. This has helped us immensely as creatives, because we don’t take the feedback from each other personally. I would say that finding that balance is the biggest advice I can give to couples working together.

Ethan: It’s a lot of fun! We balance each other’s skills and can give the most honest feedback. My advice is to always communicate with your partner before making the bigger decisions. Be on the same page for everything.

What are your favorite recordings on Earth.fm?

Ethan: ‘Pine Forest’ – I love how vast this one sounds; pine trees are my favorite. ‘Ural Owl & Friends’ – love the eeriness! ‘Autumn Night’ – spooky season.

Breanna: ‘Pacific Ocean Waves’ and ‘Tropical Ocean Waves’.  

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Connect with Bree on Instagram, TikTok, and Dribble.
And with Ethan on his website and Dribble.

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Photo courtesy of Breanna and Ethan