Colours & fonts
Colour palette
Colour is a defining element of our look and feel, one that builds recognition of UVic by association.
Core colour palette
Our palette reflects the natural landscape that surrounds us. Blue ocean, green trees and yellow sun come together to form a combination that reflects a sense of place.
Primary colours
| Colour | Digital | UVic websites | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue | |||
| C99 M50 Y0 K0 PMS 300 CP |
R0 G115 B188 HEX #0073BC |
HEX #005493 | |
| Dark blue | |||
| C100 M71 Y9 K56 PMS 648 CP |
R0 G41 B88 HEX #002958 |
HEX #002754 |
Secondary colours
| Colour | Digital | UVic websites | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green | |||
| C80 M0 Y100 K0 PMS 148-8 C |
R38 G167 B57 HEX #26A739 |
HEX #26A739 | |
| Dark green | |||
| C88 M0 Y100 K24 PMS 146-8 C |
R0 G133 B56 HEX #008538 |
HEX #008538 |
Accent colours
| Colour | Digital | UVic websites | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow | |||
| C0 M30 Y100 K0 PMS 124 CP |
R253 G184 B19 HEX #FDB813 |
HEX #F5AA1C | |
| Blue | |||
| C59 M11 Y0 K0 PMS 292 CP |
R87 G183 B231 HEX #57B7E7 |
HEX #57B7E7 | |
| Light blue | |||
| C23 M0 Y1 K0 PMS 290 CP |
R190 G231 B249 HEX #BEE7F9 |
HEX #BEE7F9 |
Using the colours
- you can use the UVic colours in various combinations depending on audience and medium
- try to balance the colours at 60% primary, 30% secondary and 10% accent
- primary dark blue works well as a background or text colour
- accent blues also work well as background colours but in most cases are not accessible as text
- the secondary greens work well for shapes, icons and backgrounds but not as text
- in print, the accent yellow works well for shapes and icons, but not background or text
- on the web, use yellow as an accent colour for components mid-way or further down the page
- avoid using yellow as a background colour on elements that appear near the top of the page as it may look like an emergency notice
Legacy colour red
Red appears in the university crest but we rarely use it. It’s often associated with power and is overly common in the post-secondary landscape. You can use it sparingly for specific purposes and audiences.
Accessibility
Colour accessibility is important. It ensures all audiences can perceive and understand the content. Not all colour combinations of the brand colours will be accessible.
Please consider contrast when choosing background and foreground colours.
Consider using an accessibility checker to help identify potential issues.
Fonts
Font is an important element of our brand's look and feel. Consistent use of a legible and distinct font helps differentiate us from other universities and builds recognition.
Our two sans serif fonts, Myriad Pro and Noto Sans, provide a cohesive and modern look while allowing flexibility in use across different media.
Noto Sans
Noto Sans is a widely and freely available font. It supports a wide range of characters and scripts, including those required for Indigenous languages. This ensures we represent Indigenous languages accurately and respectfully.
Noto Serif
Noto Serif also supports a wide range of characters and scripts.
Both Noto fonts are available as free downloads from:
- Adobe fonts: Noto Sans / Noto Serif
- Google fonts: Noto Sans / Noto Serif
Legacy font Myriad Pro
Myriad Pro is a longstanding UVic font. We don’t use it in new materials but it’s fine to use when updating old materials that used Myriad.
- available as a free download from Adobe fonts
Technical specs
Alignment for print
Body text should be left-aligned. Headings should be left aligned or centred. Right aligned text should be used sparingly, with creative discretion.
Leading and tracking for print
Body copy leading should follow the "type size plus two" rule. For example, for 12 pt type size, use 14 pt leading. Tracking should not exceed +20 or -10. All caps should be used with discretion.
Web fonts
Our content management system, Cascade, has pre-set fonts for headers, body copy and navigational elements. These fonts have been tested to ensure they meet accessibility standards.
- headers: Poppins bold
- body copy: OpenSans regular
- buttons and navigation elements: OpenSans semi-bold
Past brand elements
Martlets and faculty colours are still acceptable to use, but are not key elements in our current brand identity.