Usage

Below are a few examples of how a particular combination of colors can work together to evoke a certain tone, for a certain audience. The possible combinations are endless, but the primary red and/or blue should always be present for brand recognition. Balance the composition with a subtle use of up to three neutral colors, and if accents are needed, draw from the colorful secondary palette.

Note: These examples should not be viewed as rigid rules but as loose guidelines to point you in the right direction. The colors and ratios shown are representative of possible solutions, but not the only ones.

Formal color pallette

FORMAL, SOPHISTICATED, CLASSIC

Vibrant color pallette

VIBRANT, EXPANSIVE, APPROACHABLE

Bold color pallette

BOLD, CASUAL, INVITING

Subdued color pallette

SUBDUED, UNDERSTATED, PROFESSIONAL

FAVOR THE PRIMARY PALETTE
UR red and/or blue should always be represented.

BALANCE WITH THE NEUTRAL PALETTE
Use up to three neutral colors. Neutrals are meant to contain and isolate content.

USE THE SECONDARY PALETTE FOR ACCENTS
In most cases one or two is sufficient. Accents highlight important content but shouldn’t dominate a composition.

We want our communications to be experienced by all audiences, so use thoughtful consideration when you’re choosing colors, especially for digital communications. Below are just a few best practices for selecting color combinations that are visually effective and functionally useful for ADA compliance.

PROVIDE HIGH CONTRAST
Pay special attention when using light grays, oranges, and yellows. Check your contrast levels with the WAVE color contrast tool: http://webaim.org/resources/contrastchecker/

DON’T RELY ON COLOR ALONE
Since some users override page colors, color should not be the only way information is conveyed. Make sure information is available even if colors are altered. This can mean adding another cue, such as an underline to show a link, or an icon to reinforce the meaning.