Color is one of the most powerful and recognizable ways we express our brand identity. Rooted in nature and drawn from our environment, our colors help tell the story of who we are. When used correctly, they can enhance our voice, reflect our tone, and help our audience make instant connections.

When using color on the web, follow color contrast requirements for accessibility. Use the UO Color Contrast Chart to check your color combinations.

Primary Brand Colors

The University of Oregon’s institutional colors are green and yellow. These colors should figure dominantly in your design work.

Note: For color builds, use the color values listed here. They’ve been adjusted for the best reproduction in print and on screen and do not match Pantone® Color Bridge breakdowns. To serve people with impaired vision, some of our web color values have been altered slightly from print color values. Always use the hex color values listed here to ensure they meet accessibility standards. If you are using the Cosmic theme, use our web color classes as they include web formatting styles to meet text accessibility standards.

UO Print Services Color Adjustments

When sending files to UO Print Services, use the following color builds for UO Green and UO Yellow. These color builds have been created with input from UO Print Services to ensure accurate color reproduction with their equipment. To ensure the best representation of UO Green on a variety of paper stocks, there are two CMYK color builds for UO Green.

• For coated stocks, use 90-10-100-20 (UO Green 356c).
• For uncoated stocks, use 90-0-100-18 (UO Green 356u).
• Use 0-6-76-0 for UO Yellow.

Secondary Brand Colors

We developed our secondary color palette to complement our primary colors, drawing hues from our natural environment. Use these colors sparingly and in support to our green and yellow. Do not make these shades dominant in your design or attribute them as a primary color for a department.

UO Legacy Green, with the except of commencement-specific materials, cannot be used in place of UO Green. Use it sparingly and treat it the same as the other secondary colors. 

When adding secondary colors, do not create designs that don’t reflect the University of Oregon brand—or worse, that appear to represent another institution.

Tints and shades of the colors are prohibited.

Note: For color builds, always use the color values listed here. They’ve been adjusted for the best reproduction in print and on screen and do not match Pantone® Color Bridge breakdowns. Contact uobrand@uoregon.edu for preapproved color palettes for promotion of heritage sites.

UO Gradient

The UO has a special gradient color that can be used for backgrounds. The gradient is comprised of about 40 percent UO Yellow and 60 percent UO Green. UO Yellow always begins in the bottom left corner and ends with UO Green in the upper right.

Use the gradient sparingly and as a background element.

Using Color

Using color appropriately is one of the easiest ways to ensure your communications reflect a cohesive UO brand.

Green and yellow are your go-to colors. Choose from our secondary palette to enhance or support the primary colors. It’s usually best to stick with just one supporting secondary color.

Don’t forget to build white space into your design. Like the pauses in music, white space builds visual breathing room into your design and can help focus attention on what’s important. Always balance color, typography, and graphic elements in your design.

On the web, provide sufficient color contrast for text and graphics.

Refer to the color ratio example above when using color in your designs. It’s not an exact science—UO green and yellow don’t have to be used in equal proportion, and accent colors are optional—but can help keep your designs balanced.

✓ Color Do’s

• Use our primary green and yellow dominantly in communications.
• Include plenty of white space.
• Use accessible color combinations that offer sufficient contrast for all audiences.
• Use the provided color builds.

✗ Color Don’ts

• Don’t change the colors of our protected brand marks, including logos and the mascot mark.
• Don't use color as the only indicator of importance or functionality on the web. Not everyone sees color the same way. Call out important information by adding a visual cue (icon, underline, etc.).
• Don’t use color combinations that appear to represent other institutions.
• Don’t make secondary colors prominent in designs.
• Don’t use color combinations that are not accessible or are hard to read, such as white text on a yellow background.
• Don’t alter the color builds provided or use software programs to convert colors from one format to another.

* NOTE: UO design assets are housed in the Expanded UO Brand Library, which is restricted to UO marketing and communications professionals. For inquiries about access to these assets connect with us at uobrand@uoregon.edu.

Color Exceptions

There are times when other colors promote a connection to cultural celebrations, identity groups, or significant awareness campaigns. These efforts promote our institutional value of inclusion and other colors are permitted for these efforts (e.g. heritage months, sexual assault awareness month, identity based groups, etc.). Ensure the university logo is connected to the communication campaign and work to align our UO brand as appropriate to enhance an inclusive campus culture. As a public university, we do not align our brand to religious or political organizations though acknowledge those are identities one may hold. The university protected marks may not be connected with celebrations or organizations that do not promote the mission of the institution. If you have questions about the exception, you may contact uobrand@uoregon.edu.

Commencement

Historically used as the primary color for our institution, Legacy Green (PMS 3435) is deeply embedded in the tradition of our commencement ceremonies. Because of this, Legacy Green can be used as the primary color in place of UO Green (PMS 356) on commencement-specific materials such as regalia, banners, pennants, cords, degree frames, commencement programs, and announcements.

Legacy Green will not be approved for the use of apparel or merchandise that are not commencement-specific materials or regalia. In those cases, UO Green remains the primary green.

Metallic Colors

The application of metallic colors through the treatment of foil embossing or metallic inks should be used sparingly. Overuse of this technique can dilute its strength to convey a sense of importance, elegance, exclusivity, and value.

Metallic colors should be reserved for materials such as special event invitations and associated collateral, certificates and awards, and exclusive or high-impact marketing projects. Colors are limited to gold, silver, UO green (PMS 356), and UO yellow (PMS 107).

Do not use metallic colors for:

• departmental stationery such as letterheads, envelopes, and business cards.
• non-exclusive merchandise, swag, or giveaways.
• general handouts and printed materials.
• merchandise or print materials that are not of high quality.
• the mascot mark.
• creating new color treatments of the primary or secondary logos other than those listed on the brand site, gold, or silver.

Contact uobrand@uoregon.edu when considering the use of metallic colors for your project.

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