Ethera Creative

We see emojis 💀✨ as modern day hieroglyphs. Throughout history, visual symbols have always been our shortcut to meaning.

Emojis aren’t just fun. They’re a design system shaped by culture, generation and emotion.

Gen Z sees the 👍 as stiff. Millennials? Totally normal. One generation’s “I’m dead 💀” is another’s “LOL 😂.” These tiny glyphs might look playful, but how they are used speak volumes — from tone to timing to cultural nuance.

Older generations tend to use emojis literally. Shock means shock and a heart means love. While Gen Z uses emojis performatively to signal irony, drama or unbothered sass. (Looking at you 🫠 and 💅.)

Every emoji is part of a living visual language that evolves with how we communicate, connect and self-express across screens. If you're using emojis in your branding or marketing communications make sure to consider your target audience and adjust accordingly.

Drop insights that you've come across below. 👇

🎉 Happy (almost) Birthday, San Francisco!
This June 29th, we’re celebrating our city. A city that is full of love and acceptance; art and activism; foodies and pet lovers; innovators; rebels; weirdos and those that have always pushed society to new ways of thinking. From game-changing denim to data-powered AI, San Francisco shapes culture, creativity and community in its own iconic way. Here's to you San Francisco!
We ♥️ SF!

Here are five native-born or headquartered brands that reflect the city's spirit and imagination.

👖 Levi's
The jeans that sparked a style revolution. Levi’s started in San Francisco and became a global symbol of self-expression still stitched with creativity after 170+ years.

🎭 Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
A cultural anchor we love. YBCA is centered on community, storytelling and connection through creativity.

🎮 Discord
From local startup to global hangout. Discord makes it easy to talk, play, build and belong. A true SF-born platform.

🍻 Standard Deviant Brewing
The Coldest Tasting Beer in SF™ and one of the most vibrant community spaces in the city. Unpretentious, creative, and proudly local. Grab yourself a drink and chill.

💻 Databricks
As leaders in the AI space, they are helping to advance AI without sacrificing data privacy or control.

Daniel Lurie , Here’s to a city that welcomes big ideas and creative voices. Happy Birthday, San Francisco! Let’s keep building what’s next.

A little trivia about our city's beginnings...June 29th commemorates the founding of the Presidio of San Francisco and the Mission San Francisco de Asís in 1776. While the city was officially incorporated on April 15, 1850, June 29th is the date that represents the city's beginnings as a settlement.

Most companies are familiar with user interviews and user testing for feedback on a product. Not everyone knows that Interviews are also used in branding. During discovery and before creating the brand strategy, we conduct stakeholder interviews in order to gain a better understanding of the company and its goals. There are insights, and often misalignments, that surface. It’s a great time for the company’s leaders to reflect on the reality of where they are and to look forward to where they want to be. It’s an opportunity to realign by incorporating findings into a new brand strategy.

We’ve interviewed founders, c-suite execs, all levels of employees and some customers. See some insights that have come up in our interviews. Anyone up for sharing some surprising findings in brand interviews in which you’ve participated?

Happy Creativity Day!
Creativity isn’t limited to canvas and color. It’s the ideas that push boundaries, the tools that empower expression, and the spaces that invite connection. Today, we're spotlighting five imaginative brands who inspire us to create, play, explore, and rethink the world around us.

From sculptural fashion to friendly design objects, these brands are turning everyday experiences into something extraordinary.

Habitas

More than places to stay. These are places to belong. We’re inspired by how Our Habitas creates immersive environments that feel like stories you get to live in. Every location is a celebration of community and cultural connection.

Evo Hair Products
Haircare that doesn’t take itself too seriously and that’s exactly why we love it. Evo’s witty, minimal packaging and high-performance formulas turn your routine into a moment of expression (and a laugh).

Glowforge
Creativity at your fingertips. Glowforge makes it easy to turn ideas into real, tangible objects from prototypes to personal gifts. It’s tech that brings your imagination to life, with zero intimidation.

Areaware
From sculptural puzzles to clever home accessories, Areaware turns everyday objects into small moments of joy. It’s design with a wink and we’re totally here for it.

Koizumi
We’re still thinking about those dresses. Tomo Koizumi’s explosive couture pieces are worn on the runway and hung on gallery walls, blurring the line between fashion and fine art with unapologetic color and scale.

Say it loud, say it proud: Abolition by Fort Foundry —designed by the brilliant Mattox Shuler—doesn’t whisper, it shouts (with style). 💥🖤 Big impact, bold attitude, and serious presence.

Fort Foundry is known for typefaces that balance utility with personality—and Abolition is no exception. Perfect for posters and industrial spaces, it nods to Industrial Revolution-era type, embracing the need for attention-grabbing, high-impact design.

🌎 Happy Earth Day 🌱

From climate change to deforestation, to the loss of biodiversity there's a lot to worry about when it comes to the earth. But there’s good news: innovation and intention are changing that. 💪✨

In honor of Earth Day, we're highlighting five incredible brands that are building a more sustainable future through tech, science, and conscious design. From smart robots that reduce chemical use in farming to sidewalks that generate clean energy—these visionaries are redefining what’s possible. 🚀

🌿 IADYS
Meet Jellyfishbot—an autonomous robot that helps clean harbors and marinas by collecting floating waste and oil. Smart, efficient, and ocean-friendly.

🌱Carbon Robotics
This company uses AI-powered farming robots to eliminate the need for herbicides, helping farmers grow healthier crops while protecting soil and water.

⚡ Lucid Motors
A luxury EV company pushing electric vehicles further with extended range and sustainable manufacturing practices. The future is electric—and it’s looking good.

🚶‍♀️ Pavegen
Energy from your footsteps? Yes, really. Pavegen creates smart flooring that converts human movement into off-grid power. Clean energy starts at your feet.

🌳 Terraformation
Focused on large-scale reforestation, Terraformation empowers communities around the world to restore native forests and reverse climate change at the source.

—

Small changes create big impact. This Earth Day, let’s champion brands that are designing a better world—one innovation at a time. What’s one change you’re making this year? 🌍💚

One of the main components of design is to make complex information easy to understand. This becomes especially important with instructions, finances and anything life or mission critical.

For Omios, a company creating next generation oncolytic virus immunotherapies (cancer vaccines), we created simple illustrations to explain how their vaccinia virus (cancer vaccine) works. These infographics are not only compelling and visually interesting on their website and presentations, they are easy to grasp and lessen the viewer’s cognitive load.

Where can infographics help your brand work smarter for you?

At Ethera, we’re reveling in the typographic brilliance of Montecatini Pro by Louise Fili Louise Fili at Tipofili Foundry ✨
Designed for those who appreciate the fine art of letterforms, this typeface is a masterclass in elegance, inspired by the golden age of Italian travel posters.

What makes Montecatini Pro even more exquisite? Louise Fili and her team have expanded its ligature set, allowing letterforms to automatically pair with seamless sophistication—a dream for designers who crave beautifully connected typography. 🖋️💫

Tipofili, the type foundry led by the legendary Louise Fili, is dedicated to reviving and reimagining vintage Italian and art deco influences. Every release is a love letter to the craft of typography, blending historical beauty with modern functionality.

For type nerds like us, this one is pure magic. ✨ Which ligature are you most obsessed with? Drop your favorites below! ⬇️

🎁 Holiday Gifting, Creative Edition! 🎄

This holiday season, we’re inspired by brands that make gift-giving more meaningful. From purposeful design to inspiring missions, these five brands offer thoughtful presents that reflect creativity and heart:

🌿 Bearaby
Wrap your loved ones in comfort! Bearaby’s sustainable weighted blankets are the ultimate cozy gift. We love their eco-friendly approach and how they turn relaxation into a design statement. 💚

🎒 Cotopaxi
Adventure awaits! Cotopaxi’s colorful backpacks and outdoor gear are ideal for the explorer in your life. Their commitment to sustainability and global impact makes every purchase feel good. Thoughtful design + purpose? Perfect combo. 🌍✨

✨ Raven + Lily
Give a gift that tells a story. Raven + Lily’s ethically made jewelry and accessories are handcrafted by global artisans, blending timeless design with a powerful mission.

☀️ SolarAid
Brighten someone’s world—literally! SolarAid’s solar lights are not just practical but life-changing, helping bring clean energy to underserved communities. A gift that truly gives back. 🌞

🎶 Stelton A/S
For lovers of sleek design, Stelton’s Scandinavian-inspired kitchenware and home accessories are perfect. Timeless, minimalist, and undeniably chic—an instant favorite under the tree. 🖤

This year, give gifts that inspire, delight, and make an impact. Which brands are on your gift list? Let us know below! ⬇️

🦃 Happy Thanksgiving from everyone at Ethera! 🍂

As we gather to give thanks, we’re celebrating brands that are helping make the world a better place. Here are five brands we admire for their innovation and impact:

🌸
Where inclusivity meets ingenuity. AnaOno redefines lingerie for breast cancer survivors with designs that empower and inspire. Their mission-driven approach is a masterclass in compassionate branding. 💖

🌍
Sustainability champions. Bluesign revolutionizes the textile industry with eco-friendly practices, reminding us that great design starts with responsible choices. Their commitment to a cleaner planet pushes us to think green (or blue) 😉 in our own creative projects. 🌿

♿
Design with a purpose. FODAC provides mobility aids to those in need, demonstrating how impactful design can change lives. Their blend of function and compassion is a powerful example of branding that matters. 💙

🐾
Heartfelt and humane. The SPCA beautifully executes on their mission of rescuing animals and promoting adoption. They show us how to touch hearts and make a difference. 🧡🐶

📝
An organizational powerhouse. Notion keeps creative ideas flowing smoothly, helping businesses turn concepts into reality. 🚀

These brands inspire us to push boundaries, think creatively, and design with heart. Who are you thankful for this year? Share your favorite brands below! ⬇️

At Ethera, every great design begins the same way—with pen to paper.📝 Sketching allows us to quickly capture ideas, explore new concepts, and organize our thoughts before diving into the digital world. This is how we keep creativity at the forefront. It’s how we ensure every design is not just aesthetically pleasing, but also thoughtful and strategic. 💡