The Story Behind Our Logo: How does an Ox represent care communications, EQ training, and connected communication?
- Gary Robinson
- Dec 5, 2025
- 3 min read
If you’re wondering why our logo features a bold, unmissable red cow, the answer begins in an unexpected place: my childhood in 1978.
Back then, music filled our small home through a cheap family radio and my dad’s well-worn record player. I didn’t realise it at the time, but those early moments, listening, observing, absorbing, were shaping the communicator I would eventually become. They taught me that every sound, every lyric, every story has a deeper origin.
That fascination with stories has stayed with me. I’m a relentless collector of them, especially real, human stories that reveal how people become who they are. That curiosity recently led me into the world of legendary music manager Don Arden (father to Sharon Osbourne and legendary manager of bands such as Black Sabbath) and, through him, to one of the most intriguing figures in entertainment history: Robert Stigwood (manager of The Bee Gees, Eric Clapton and producer of Saturday Night Fever and Grease).
Stigwood, affectionately known as “Stiggy”, was the powerhouse behind some of the world’s most iconic albums, films, and stage productions. As I dug into his life, I found myself speaking with people who knew him personally, each with stories richer and more surprising than the last. One story led to another, and before long, the path wound its way directly to the symbol that would inspire the Unmuted brand.
Caregiver attentively listening to an elderly person in a cozy living room
The Red Cow That Started It All
While revisiting old records from my youth, I kept noticing a small red animal stamped on the label of Stigwood’s company, RSO Records. For years I thought it was a pig. Only recently did I learn that it was actually a Japanese Akabeko, a bright red cow known for its nodding head and its meaning: good fortune, resilience, and protection.
In a rare interview, Stigwood explained that a friend had gifted him a handmade Akabeko while he was working in Japan. It sat on his office mantelpiece, a quiet emblem of luck and perseverance. When he needed a logo, the choice felt obvious: “Good health and good fortune - that’s appropriate.”
It struck me that the Akabeko wasn’t just a clever design choice. It was a storytelling choice. A symbol with history, culture, and intention behind it.
A Symbol Meets a Storyteller
More from Eastern culture and philosophies.
In Chinese astrology, I’m a Rooster, confident, expressive, naturally inclined toward performance and narration. Roosters and Oxen (or cows, in this case) are considered highly compatible.A perfect match.
The Akabeko’s symbolism, resilience, health, good fortune, aligned seamlessly with everything Unmuted stands for: helping people find their voice, tell their stories, and communicate with authenticity.
Why This Matters to Communications Training
Great communication isn’t about speaking louder. It’s about speaking with purpose,choosing symbols, words, and stories that mean something and listening with intention and open mindedness.
The Unmuted cow embodies that philosophy. It reminds us that:
Symbols carry power when they hold personal meaning.
Stories connect us across cultures, industries, and generations.
Sometimes the smallest detail, such as a red cow on an old record, can unlock an entire narrative worth telling.
So yes, our logo is a cow. Well, an Ox.And if it was meaningful enough for Robert Stigwood, it’s certainly meaningful enough for us.
But more importantly, it represents something bigger: the courage to speak, the resilience to keep going, and the fortune that comes from sharing your story Unmuted.
Do you have a personal story or symbol that is representative of you and your journey? Get in touch via the contact box, or on our social channels, I'd love to hear your stories!
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