Color palette
Color is a key part of the Penn Medicine brand, and plays an important role in how information is organized and understood. Our palette is designed to create consistency across materials while supporting clear communication and readability. Each color should be used intentionally to guide hierarchy, emphasize key information, and maintain a cohesive visual experience.
Primary and supporting colors work together to create structure and flexibility across layouts.
Be sure to use the correct color space. Digital (RGB) and print (CMYK) colors are not interchangeable; using print specifications for digital display will result in washed-out colors that degrade the brand.
Primary colors
Primary colors define the core of the Penn Medicine brand. They should be used prominently to establish recognition and create a strong, consistent visual foundation, with each color playing a distinct role.
Penn Medicine red
HEX: #990000
RGB: 153, 0, 0
CMYK: 24, 100, 100, 25
Embroidery thread: Maderia 1981
Penn Medicine blue
HEX: #011F5B
RGB: 1, 31, 91
CMYK: 100, 93, 32, 32
Embroidery thread: Maderia 1967
Supporting colors
Supporting colors provide flexibility within the palette and help organize content across layouts. Use them intentionally to increase legibility, emphasize hierarchy, create separation, and support the primary colors. Avoid overusing multiple accent colors; a focused palette is more effective.
Burgundy
Burgundy is best suited for large areas of color, structural elements, and text styles. It supports readability and provides a stable visual base for longer-form or content-heavy layouts.
HEX: #6B0000
RGB: 107, 0, 0
CMYK: 33, 100, 100, 50
Dark blue
Dark blue is one of the most commonly paired accent colors with Penn Medicine red and blue. It is used in backgrounds, text styles, and shield pattern, icons, and supporting elements.
HEX: #0055A4
RGB: 0, 85, 164
CMYK: 97, 74, 2, 0
Sky blue
Sky blue is an accent color used in backgrounds, icons, and supporting elements. It should not be used for text under 14pt due to contrast limitations.
HEX: #4C90C9
RGB: 76, 144, 201
CMYK: 70, 33, 2, 0
Light blue
Light blue is an accent color used in icons and supporting elements. It should not be used as backgrounds for type, the shield pattern, or text styles.
HEX: #B1CFE7
RGB: 177, 207, 231
CMYK: 29, 10, 3, 0
Pale blue
Pale blue is used for backgrounds, sidebars, the shield pattern, and supporting elements. It is a 12% tint of sky blue, and at 50% opacity is often used as a column separator behind text.
HEX: #E1EAF3
RGB: 225, 234, 243
CMYK: 10, 4, 1, 0
Cool gray
Cool gray is available for backgrounds, sidebars, and supporting elements when a cooler neutral tone is needed. It is a 5% tint of navy blue and is the least used secondary color in the palette.
HEX: #F3F4F7
RGB: 242, 244, 247
CMYK:4, 2, 1, 0
Accessibility
Color must always support readability and inclusion. Penn Medicine designs to meet or exceed WCAG AA accessibility standards for color contrast, and all text must maintain sufficient contrast against its background in both digital and print environments.
Avoid low-contrast combinations and do not rely on color alone to communicate meaning. Critical information should remain clear in all viewing conditions
Use color contrast checking tools to confirm accessibility standards are met.
Recommended tools: