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Color Palette

St. Ed's is blue and gold. These are our primary colors and should be used prominently in communications to ensure brand consistency. Colors should be used in accordance with the tone of a piece and the type of communication required.

Primary Colors

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Sorin 
PMS: 281 C
CMYK: 100-88-38-32
RGB: 25-46-86
HEX: #192e56

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Gold Medallion
PMS: 7408 C
CMYK: 7-27-99-0
RGB: 237-185-32
HEX: #edb920

Secondary Palette

The Secondary Palette contains Brights and Neutrals, each containing colors designed for specific purposes. 

Brights

The Brights add variety and vibrancy when used with the Primary Palette. These colors work alongside the primary colors and should be used in combination with the Primary Palette whenever possible. 

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Bluebonnet
PMS: 291 C
CMYK: 42-6-0-0
RGB: 139-202-239
HEX: #8bcaef

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Red Doors
PMS: 1788 C
CMYK: 2-89-88-0
RGB: 234-68-51
HEX: #ea4433

Neutrals

The Neutrals should be used for informational elements such as copy, tables and digital components.  

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Moontower
CMYK: 76-67-67-88*
RGB: 0-0-0
�ᷡ��:​ #000000

*A note for print applications: Moontower is a rich black and should only be used for graphics and large text (18 points or greater). Small body text should always be set in 100% black (Grackle). to ensure accurate printing.

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Grackle
PMS: 447 C
CMYK: 69-63-65-64
RGB: 46-45-43
HEX: #262626

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Bridge Bats
PMS: 4291 C
CMYK: 62-53-58-30
RGB: 89-90-85
HEX: #595a55

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Anchors
PMS: Warm Gray 3 C
CMYK: 31-27-34-0
RGB: 180-174-163
HEX: #b4aea3

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Waterloo
PMS: 7527 C
CMYK: 11-10-23-0
RGB: 226-219-196
HEX: #e2dbc4

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Limestone
PMS: 7527 C (30%)
CMYK: 2-3-5-0
RGB: 247-243-237
HEX: #f7f3ed

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Sorin Tint

PMS: 281 C (5%)
CMYK: 7-4-1-0
RGB: 232-237-245
HEX: #e9ecf4

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White
CMYK: 0-0-0-0
RGB: 255-255-255
�ᷡ��:​ #ffffff

Color Usage

Pairing colors is a tricky endeavor and not an exact science! Use your best judgment and limit the number of colors used to avoid a rainbow look. It's best to use the Primary Palette the most, which can also include white. The palette should rely on secondary colors in accordance with the tone and type of communication.

Please keep in mind that variables could affect limitations such as text size, font, etc. If in doubt, reach out to us.

Color Ratios

Primary Palette

Our blue and gold have been brought together into one primary palette that prioritizes consistency and brand recognition. These are our school colors. Every layout should use the Primary Palette in some way. This palette should be dominant over other colors and express the foundation of our brand. Of the two, Sorin should be used more than Gold Medallion (gold being more of an accent). 

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Secondary Palette

The Brights add variety and vibrancy when used with the Primary Palette. These colors work alongside the primary colors and should not be used completely on their own. 

Colors in the Brights Palette add variety and vibrancy but should be used sparingly and as accents to complement colors from the Primary Palette (keep in mind vivid photography can also add to the vibrancy of a piece). In most cases, colors from the Primary Palette should take up a larger percentage of your piece, with the Brights taking up 10–15%. Bluebonnet and Red Doors can be used in equal proportion, as long as they are secondary to the Primary Palette.

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The Neutrals are used for informational elements such as copy, tables and digital components. By nature of their purpose, colors from the Neutrals Palette should be used the least. Backgrounds can use Limestone or Sorin Tint, depending on context, to frame layouts and create structure through color contrast.

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Color Pairings

Primary Palette

Brand recognition is important. Communications to prospective students and families with a lower awareness of St. Ed's should use primary colors predominantly and secondary colors sparingly (most often as accent colors), and always in conjunction with primary colors as the dominant palette in the piece.

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Secondary Palette

Colors from the secondary palette add variety and depth to communication pieces. When awareness of St. Ed's is higher, secondary colors can be used in a broader way. The type of channel and tone of the piece (such as a social media post promoting an event to current students or a swag item for orientation) can also open the door for greater use of the secondary palette. In addition, illustrations and photography are excellent tools to add vibrancy and color to a piece.

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General Guidelines for Pairing Colors

Follow these do's and don'ts when combining colors in your communication pieces:

Do's

• When in doubt, default to the Primary Palette.
• To maintain brand uniformity, colors from the Primary Palette should almost always be dominant in a piece.
• When using the Primary Palette, use Sorin the most — Gold Medallion should act as an accent color.
• In general, use colors from the Secondary Palette as accents.
• In most cases, colors from the Secondary Palette should be used in conjunction with colors from the Primary Palette (not by themselves).
• To ensure readability (and avoid your materials taking on a rainbow look), it is important to use a restrained color palette. Color, particularly, should be restrained when vibrant and colorful photography is used. Limiting your piece to 2–3 colors and using color as small pops of design to play off colors in a photograph are recommended practices. 

Don'ts: 

• Don't place colors together that do not have enough contrast with one another.
• Don't add different colored strokes to colored text.
• Avoid excessive drop shadow on type.
• Don't place colored type on a busy photo or background.

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Legibility and Accessibility

Above all, the use of color should never hinder legibility or restrict access to your message to any audience. 

• Be mindful of print production limitations and screen accessibility when creating your communication pieces.
• Adhere to  so your communication pieces can be understood by all audiences.
• As a general rule, large chunks of body text should be set in black.
• Text is usually easier to read when it's not reversed on a dark background.

Learn more about Website Accessibility