Color Usage

It is important that we consider all people when designing for our community which means that we have to design for those whom may have disabilities such as color blindness. Meeting ADA (American Disability Act) standards is important to our outreach efforts. Here are examples of unacceptable/acceptable ways to use the colors from the color palette. Please contact the office of Marketing and Communications if you have questions about usage.

A. Circle Accent / Circle accents are set in any color and multiplied over photos and pattern holding-shapes.

B. Underline / Underline Action Condensed in headlines to add emphasis and visual interest. Thickness should mimic the weight of the type.

C. Cross-Hatch Pattern / Patterns can be set in colors from our palette and placed in a rectangular or (semi-) circular holding shape.

D. Mega-Type / Outline Open Sauce, set in a large type size, and place it breaking the edge of the grid to accent pieces.

E. Cutouts / Cut out people, places, or things and set them in full-color or duotone for a distinctive way to include photography.

F. Checker Pattern / See “Cross-Hatch Pattern.”

G. Badge / Set in our bright red, these shapes contain short phrases or numbers and are multiplied over photos and pattern holding shapes.

Color duotones are an effective way to add color and create a neutral backdrop for text and graphics. We can use a duotone effect on our cutouts, full-bleed images, and photos cropped into a shape.