Identity Guidelines

Color Palette

Executive Education Color Palette

For Executive Education, we use a reserved set of colors for a more mature look. Our crimson-forward palette is supported with neutral colors that help to balance any layout. Below, you can see that red 2, 3 and 4, read as tints of crimson; and blue 1, 2, 3 and 4, supply cool tones to complement the warmer crimson and red. All are used sparingly as accent colors.

Colors for Backgrounds and Text (Including White)

  • Harvard Crimson

    CMYK: 8/100/65/24
    RGB: 164/16/52
    HEX: #A41034
    PMS: 187 U, 1807 C

  • Red 2

    CMYK: 5/100/80/0
    RGB: 232/5/56
    HEX: #E80538
    PMS: 199

  • Blue 1

    CMYK: 95/100/10/0
    RGB: 59/40/131
    HEX: #3B2883
    PMS: 2735

  • Blue 2

    CMYK: 65/55/0/0
    RGB: 101/120/180
    HEX: #6578B4
    PMS: 2116

  • Black

    CMYK: 0/0/0/100
    RGB: 0/0/0
    HEX: #000000
    PMS: Black

  • Gray 2

    CMYK: 60/55/45/15
    RGB: 104/102/111
    HEX: #68666F
    PMS: Cool Gray 11

Colors for Backgrounds, Charts and Graphics

  • Red 3

    CMYK: 0/80/80/0
    RGB: 237/85/65
    HEX: #ED5541
    PMS: 7416

  • Red 4

    CMYK: 10/35/25/0
    RGB: 224/178/167
    HEX: #E0B2A7
    PMS: 692

  • Blue 3

    CMYK: 52/25/5/0
    RGB: 127/164/209
    HEX: #7FA4D1
    PMS: 2142

  • Blue 4

    CMYK: 30/13/0/0
    RGB: 170/200/235
    HEX: #AAC8EB
    PMS: 2717

  • Gray 4

    CMYK: 15/15/15/0
    RGB: 213/208/202
    HEX: #D5D0CA
    PMS: Cool Gray 4

  • White

    CMYK: 0/0/0/0
    RGB: 255/255/255
    HEX: #FFFFFF
    PMS: White

Accessibility – Color and Contrast

Harvard University uses The Worldwide Web Consortium’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1, Level AA Conformance (WCAG 2.1 Level AA) as our conformance standards.

You can read the full accessibility policy here:
https://accessibility.huit.harvard.edu/digital-accessibility-policy

Accessibility – Font on Background Color

AAA (Contrast = 7+)AA (Contrast = 4.5+)AA18 (Contrast = 3+)
Text color can be used at:
Text at any size.		Text color can be used at:
Text at any size		Text color can be used at:
Bold text at 14pt and larger.
Text at 18pt and larger.

The text colors shown on top of each swatch below meet Level AA WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards for digital use when used on top of the background color shown. Any other color combinations should be tested to confirm they meet the AA standard.

The Harvard Digital Accessibility website provides this color contrast checking tool:
https://www.tpgi.com/color-contrast-checker/

NOTE: Although these standards are specific to digital use, they can also serve as a general guide to inform acceptable text contrast for print materials.

Font Colors – White Background

White
CMYK: 0/0/0/0
RGB: 255/255/255
HEX: #FFFFFF
PMS: White

Font colors shown on top of white background that meet and do not meet Level AA WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards.
Best Contrast
ContrastColor Hex ValueGuidance
AAA 7.7#A41034Crimson = Text at any size.
AAA 21#000000Black = Text at any size.
Great Contrast
ContrastColor Hex ValueGuidance
AA 5.6#68666FGray 2 = Text at any size.
AA 11.5#3B2883Blue 1 = Text at any size.
AA 4.6#E80538Red 2 = Text at any size.
Good Contrast
ContrastColor Hex ValueGuidance
AA18 3.5#6578B4Blue 2 – Text at 14pt and larger.
AA18 3.5#ED5541Red 3 – Text at 14pt and larger.
Contrast Does Not Pass
ContrastColor Hex ValueGuidance
DNP 2.5#7FA4D1Blue 3 – Do not use as text color on this background.
DNP 1.8#AAC8EBBlue 4 – Do not use as text color on this background.
DNP 1.8#E0B2A7Red 4 – Do not use as text color on this background.
DNP 1.5#D5D0CAGray 4 – Do not use as text color on this background.

Font Colors – Harvard Crimson Background

Harvard Crimson
CMYK: 8/100/65/24
RGB: 164/16/52
HEX: #A41034
PMS: 187 U, 1807 C

Font colors shown on top of Crimson background that meet and do not meet Level AA WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards. Text description on page follows.
ContrastColor Hex ValueGuidance
AAA 7.7#FFFFFFWhite = Text at any size.
DNP 2.7#000000Black = Do not use as text color on this background.
DNP 0#A41034Crimson = Do not use as text color on this background.

Font Colors – Red 2 Background

Red 2
CMYK: 5/100/80/0
RGB: 232/5/56
HEX: #E80538
PMS: 199

Font colors shown on top of Red 2 background that meet and do not meet Level AA WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards. Text description on page follows.
ContrastColor Hex ValueGuidance
AA 4.6#FFFFFFWhite – Text at any size.
AA 4.5#000000Black = Text at any size.
DNP 1.6#A41034Crimson = Do not use as text color on this background.

Font Colors – Red 3 Background

Red 3
CMYK: 0/80/80/0
RGB: 237/85/65
HEX: #ED5541
PMS: 7416

Font colors shown on top of Red 3 background that meet and do not meet Level AA WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards. Text description on page follows.
ContrastColor Hex ValueGuidance
AA18 3.5#FFFFFFWhite = Text at 14pt and larger.
AA 4.5#000000Black = Text at any size.
DNP 2.2#A41034Crimson = Do not use as text color on this background.

Font Colors – Red 4 Background

Red 4
CMYK: 10/35/25/0
RGB: 224/178/167
HEX: #E0B2A7
PMS: 692

Font colors shown on top of Red 4 background that meet and do not meet Level AA WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards. Text description on page follows.
ContrastColor Hex ValueGuidance
DNP 1.8#FFFFFFWhite = Do not use as text color on this background.
AAA 11.1#000000Black = Text at any size.
AA18 4.1#A41034Crimson = Text at 14pt or larger.

Font Colors – Blue 1 Background

Blue 1
CMYK: 95/100/10/0
RGB: 59/40/131
HEX: #3B2883
PMS: 2735

Font colors shown on top of Blue 1 background that meet and do not meet Level AA WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards. Text description on page follows.
ContrastColor Hex ValueGuidance
AAA 11.5#FFFFFFWhite = Text at any size.
DNP 1.8#000000Black = Do not use as text color on this background.
DNP 1.4#A41034Crimson = Do not use as text color on this background.

Font Colors – Blue 2 Background

Blue 2
CMYK: 65/55/0/0
RGB: 101/120/180
HEX: #6578B4
PMS: 2116

Font colors shown on top of Blue 2 background that meet and do not meet Level AA WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards. Text description on page follows.
ContrastColor Hex ValueGuidance
AA18 3.5#FFFFFFWhite = Text at 14pt and larger.
AA 4.9#000000Black = Text at any size.
DNP 2.2#A41034Crimson = Do not use as text color on this background.

Font Colors – Blue 3 Background

Blue 3
CMYK: 52/25/5/0
RGB: 127/164/209
HEX: #7FA4D1
PMS: 2142

Font colors shown on top of Blue 3 background that meet and do not meet Level AA WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards. Text description on page follows.
ContrastColor Hex ValueGuidance
DNP 2.5#FFFFFFWhite = Do not use as text color on this background.
AAA 8.1#000000Black = Text at any size.
AA18 2.5#A41034Crimson = Text at 14pt and larger.

Font Colors – Blue 4 Background

Blue 4
CMYK: 30/13/0/0
RGB: 170/200/235
HEX: #AAC8EB
PMS: 2717

Font colors shown on top of Blue 4 background that meet and do not meet Level AA WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards. Text description on page follows.
ContrastColor Hex ValueGuidance
DNP 1.7#FFFFFFWhite = Do not use as text color on this background.
AAA 12.1#000000Black = Text at any size.
AA18 4.5#A41034Crimson = Text at 14pt and larger.

Font Colors – Black Background

Black
CMYK: 0/0/0/100
RGB: 0/0/0
HEX: #000000
PMS: Black

Font colors shown on top of Black background that meet and do not meet Level AA WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards. Text description on page follows.
ContrastColor Hex ValueGuidance
AAA 21#FFFFFFWhite = Text at any size.
DNP 0#000000Black = Do not use as text color on this background.
DNP 2.7#A41034Crimson = Do not use as text color on this background.

Font Colors – Gray 2 Background

Gray 2
CMYK: 60/55/45/15
RGB: 104/102/111
HEX: #68666F
PMS: Cool Gray 11

Font colors shown on top of Gray 2 background that meet and do not meet Level AA WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards. Text description on page follows.
ContrastColor Hex ValueGuidance
AA 5.6#FFFFFFWhite = Text at any size.
AA18 3.7#000000Black = Text at 14pt and larger.
DNP 1.3#A41034Crimson = Do not use as text color on this background.

Font Colors – Gray 4 Background

Gray 4
CMYK: 15/15/15/0
RGB: 213/208/202
HEX: #D5D0CA
PMS: Cool Gray 4

Font colors shown on top of Gray 4 background that meet and do not meet Level AA WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards. Text description on page follows.
ContrastColor Hex ValueGuidance
DNP 1.5#FFFFFFWhite = Do not use as text color on this background.
AAA 13.7#000000Black = Text at any size.
AA 5#A41034Crimson = Text at any size.

Background Color Rules – General

The HBS brand colors white and crimson, are the primary recommendations for backgrounds in any media.

The background colors for advertising and/or organic social creative are subject to change from time to time. Regularly refreshing our ads to combat creative fatigue requires the use of various background colors over time (in compliance with accessibility).

Background Color – Social

Paid Social: Crimson Background

HBS Executive Education Competing in the Age of AI virtual program social ad on crimson background

Organic Social: White Background

HBS Executive Education Competing in the Age of AI virtual program social ad on white background

Background Color – Banners

Brand + Retargeting + CLPs: Crimson Background

HBS Executive Education brand awareness banner ad on crimson background
HBS Executive Education persona retargeting banner ad on crimson background
HBS Executive Education Advanced Management Program banner ad on crimson background

Focused Programs + Categories: White Background

HBS Executive Education Digital Transformation Programs banner ad on white background
HBS Executive Education Competing in the Age of AI virtual program banner ad on white background

Background Color – All Media

In order to create levels of information hierarchy, it is often necessary to add a background color. This is true for all media–brochures, website, emails, social posts, etc.

In these examples, the background colors white, blue, crimson and black are used to provide three levels of differentiation within information-rich pages.

As with all instances of text on color, it is imperative that accessibility is assured. As such, the HBS Blue 4 that is used in these examples is rendered in a tint; preferably 20% (never greater than 20%, and never lesser than 10%).

HBS Executive Education General Management Program brochure page with overview and curriculum guide
HBS Executive Education Leading Across Differences to Drive Excellence and Retention (LADDER) brochure page with program overview