Please note: some of the information in this guide is out of date. It is presented here primarily for historical reference, providing context for the Columbia College Style Guide.
- Introduction
- Summary of Recommendation
- Legacy Colors & Web Equivalents
- Recommended Web Equivalents
- Sources
Introduction
Purpose
This guide shows current and recommended web equivalents of the official brand colors for Columbia and its component institutions. Current web equivalents are shown to illustrate the varying color use which contributes to inconsistent brand presentation. The recommended color equivalents resolve the inconsistencies while maintaining uniqueness for each component institution.
Background
Official brand colors (intended for printed materials produced using inks) must be converted into web equivalent colors for use in web and digital media (displayed using combinations of red, green, and blue light). All web and digital communications should use the same web equivalent colors to maintain brand consistency.
Goals
To promote brand relationships between Columbia's component institutions through color while maintaining the uniqueness of each component brand, this guide makes recommendations for a set of shared web colors used by all institutions and secondary web colors that are unique to each institution.
Limitations
These recommendations are for web and digital media only. Not all colors from institutional brand standards are included. Please refer to the established brand guidelines for your component institution for other media.
These recommendations will apply only websites and digital media designed and developed by CCIT. This includes:
- Columbia College
- The Core Curriculum
- Columbia College Fund Annual Report
- Columbia College Alumni Association
- Columbia College Today
- Center for Career Education
- Student Affairs
- Undergraduate Admissions
- Undergraduate Financial Aid and Educational Financing
- Alumni Reunion Weekend (College, Engineering, General Studies)
- WKCR
Summary of Recommendation
Legacy Colors & Web Equivalents
This chart shows the official colors used by 4 institutions and their web equivalents. Even the "official" Columbia Blue has not been interpreted or presented consistently.
CU* | CC* | SA* | AD* | EN* | Official (Pantone®) Color |
Web Equivalient Color |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Columbia Blue | |||||||
p290 | rgb(196,216,226) #c4d8e2 |
web equivalent color based on Columbia style guide | |||||
p290 | rgb(166,183,200) #a6b7c8 |
web equivalent color based on College style guide | |||||
p291 | rgb(158,206,235) #9eceeb |
web equivalent color on Pentagram style guide | |||||
Secondary Colors | |||||||
p284 | rgb(117,170,219) #75aadb |
web equivalent color based on Columbia style guide | |||||
cyan | rgb(0,174,239) #00aeef |
web equivalent color based on Pentagram style guide | |||||
p279 | rgb(51,102,153) #336699 |
web equivalent color based on College style guide | |||||
p300 | rgb(0,119,192) #0077c0 |
web equivalent color based on Pentagram style guide | |||||
p280 | rgb(0,73,144) #004990 |
web equivalent color based on Student Affairs style guide | |||||
p280 | rgb(0,43,127) #002b7f |
web equivalent color based on official Columbia style guide | |||||
p295 | rgb(24,46,98) #182e62 |
web equivalent color based on various sources** | |||||
p2768 | rgb(0,45,106) #002d6a |
web equivalent color based on student affairs brand guidelines | |||||
p541 | rgb(0,63,115) #003f73 |
web equivalent color based on various sources** | |||||
p5415 | rgb(85,122,160) #557aa0 |
web equivalent color based on color in use on engineering website | |||||
p5425 | rgb(125,153,170) #7d99aa |
web equivalent color based on various sources** | |||||
p cool grey 7 | rgb(145,150,155) #91969b |
web equivalent color based on software color conversion | |||||
p cool grey 8 | rgb(161,161,164) #a1a1a4 |
web equivalent color based on student affairs brand guidelines | |||||
p warm grey 11 | rgb(94,81,78) #5e514e |
web equivalent color based on columbia college brand guidelines | |||||
p warm grey 3 | rgb(205,201,197) #cdc9c5 |
web equivalent color based on columbia college brand guidelines | |||||
p392 20% | rgb(230,230,204) #e6e6cc |
web equivalent color selected to match color in use | |||||
p122 | rgb(252,212,80) #fcd450 |
web equivalent color based on software color conversion | |||||
p1215 | rgb(250,221,128) #fadd80 |
web equivalent color based on various sources** |
Recommended Web Equivalents
The recommendations identify 2 colors (the official Columbia Blue and the dark Columbia blue) as common colors. Other colors are also unified to create visual consistency. A few colors have been adjusted to conform to common values for web equivalents or to match colors in use.
CU* | CC* | SA* | AD* | EN* | Official (Pantone®) Color |
Web Equivalient Color |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Columbia Blue | |||||||
p290, p291 | rgb(172,204,230) #accce6 |
web equivalent color based on visual match | |||||
Secondary Colors | |||||||
p284 | rgb(117,170,219) #75aadb |
web equivalent color based on University style guide | |||||
cyan | rgb(0,153,230) #0099e6 |
web equivalent color based on visual match | |||||
p279 | rgb(74,133,200) #4a85c8 |
web equivalent color based on various sources** | |||||
p280, p300 | rgb(0,96,168) #0060a8 |
web equivalent color interpreted from standard values | |||||
p280, p295, p2768, p541 |
rgb(0,51,115) #003373 |
web equivalent color interpreted from standard values | |||||
p5415 | rgb(85,122,160) #557aa0 |
web equivalent color based on color in use on Engineering website | |||||
p5425 | rgb(125,153,170) #7d99aa |
web equivalent color based on various sources** | |||||
p cool grey 7, p cool grey 8 |
rgb(161,161,164) #a1a1a4 |
web equivalent color based on Student Affairs style guide | |||||
p warm grey 11 | rgb(94,81,78) #5e514e |
web equivalent color based on College style guide | |||||
p warm grey 3 | rgb(205,201,197) #cdc9c5 |
web equivalent color based on College style guide | |||||
p392 20% | rgb(230,230,204) #e6e6cc |
web equivalent color selected to match color in use | |||||
p122, p1215 |
rgb(252,212,80) #fcd450 |
web equivalent color based on software color conversion |
* CU = Columbia University; CC = Columbia College; SA = Student Affairs; AD = Admissions & Financial Aid; EN = Columbia Engineering
Sources**
- Official University Web Guidelines
- Pantone.com Color Finder
- Goff Grafix Pantone to RGB color conversions
- Columbia University brand guidelines (“blue290”)
- Columbia College brand guidelines
- Columbia Engineering brand guidelines
- Pentagram style guidelines (for Admissions)
- Student Affairs brand guidelines