I’m always pleased when people compliment the Horan Communications logo. The credit for this beautiful design goes to my friend and collaborator Richard Francey from INDUSTRY11. When Rich was developing the branding and identity package for my business, he presented me with a number of wonderful logo options, but I was immediately drawn to one you see at the top of this page. I’m often asked whether there is significance to the bird, and in fact, there is! The design features a starling, which I chose for a few reasons:
1. I happen to be a devoted fan of Stevie Nicks, a brilliant singer/songwriter, who features the starling in her haunting Fleetwood Mac masterpiece, Sara (“Hold on, the night is coming / And the starling flew for days and days”). So in part, the appearance of the starling is a simple homage to a great poet and performer.
2. The starling is a beautiful bird, often adorned with vibrant, colorful feathers — the kind of eye-catching elegance we aspire to help our clients achieve in their communications work.
3. The starling is also considered one of the most sophisticated communicators in the animal kingdom, with the keen ability to listen to and replicate nearly any sound it hears. (Listen.) In fact, the starling has been at the center of a scientific debate about the very nature of human language.
Today, a friend of mine, who knows my fascination with these birds, sent me a link to this incredible video, featuring a flock of starlings (called a “murmuration”) creating a truly fascinating natural spectacle. Enjoy.