Color

PMS for spot-color printing

CMYK for process-color printing

RGB or HEX code for screen viewing

The colors in MIT’s core palette can be combined in a number of ways. Each combination can subtly impact the overall tone of your design.

For example, MIT red, silver gray, and white feel traditionally “MIT.” Using MIT red in combination with bright red, black, and white feels contemporary while still reflecting elements of MIT’s history and legacy.

When choosing colors from the core palette, consider the overall tone and mood you are seeking to convey, as well as your specific communications goals.

MIT red, silver gray, white

MIT red, bright red, black, white

Bright red, black, white

Black, silver gray, white

Including MIT red in your communications helps to reinforce the relationship between your department and MIT as a whole.

But combining colors with MIT red requires careful consideration. MIT red tends to work best with analogous warm colors such as reds, pinks, and yellow. MIT red also works well with complementary cool colors like blues. It’s best to avoid colors that sit in between the warm and cool color range, such as purples and greens.

Analogous colors

Complementary colors

Color accessibility is important because it ensures that everyone, including people with visual impairments or color vision deficiencies, can perceive and distinguish information presented in various color combinations.

Color contrast

Color contrast is defined as the difference between two colors when they are placed next to each other. It is important because it affects legibility and readability of text, as well as the overall comprehension of content for people with visual impairments or color vision deficiencies. 

Contrast is typically measured using what’s known as the contrast ratio, a numerical value that represents the relative difference in luminance (brightness) between two colors. The contrast ratio is calculated by comparing the luminance of the foreground color (such as text) to that of the background color (such as the background of a webpage).

Sufficient color contrast

Insufficient color contrast

Contrast requirements

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) provide specific criteria for contrast ratios to ensure that text is easily readable for a wide range of users. The current WCAG 2.1 standard recommends a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text (typically 18 pt or 14 pt bold). For enhanced accessibility, the WCAG AAA level requires a contrast ratio of 7:1 for normal text and 4.5:1 for large text.

By ensuring sufficient contrast between foreground and background colors, we make it easier for all users to perceive and understand the information being presented.

Accessibility resources

MIT Disability and Access Services can offer guidance on accessible web design and code.

The WebAIM Contrast Checker is a free tool for checking color contrast.