Colors
Using a consistent color palette helps build awareness and recognition for CMU. Always match color values to assure exactly the right match.
Core Colors
The core colors of Carnegie Mellon University, registered since the late 1920s, are red, light gray, dark gray, black and white. Carnegie Red should be the dominant color in your color scheme. The grays, black and white support Carnegie Red.
Official university collateral, uniforms, vehicles, signs and other key identity elements should always be produced using the core color palette.
Carnegie Red
C0 M100 Y79 K20
187C
R196 G18 B48
#C41230
Black
C0 M0 Y0 K100
Black C
R0 G0 B0
#000000
Iron Gray
C0 M0 Y0 K70
Cool Gray 10 C
R109 G110 B113
#6D6E71
Steel Gray
C0 M0 Y0 K30
Cool Gray 4 C
R224 G224 B224
#E0E0E0
Secondary Colors
A secondary palette of color, introduced in 2019, is inspired by the threads of the Carnegie clan Tartan and the iconic architecture of the campus dating back to its origin. The Secondary Colors should be strictly reserved for audiences closely tied to the university for special situations and unique communications.
Use Secondary Colors as accents only to add energy or warmth to layouts as complements to the core palette. When using a Secondary Color, Carnegie Red must be present in the communication vehicle or product.
Tartan Palette | Bold, Youthful, Passionate, Fearless, Audacious
Scots Rose
C0 M90 Y60 K0
Red 032 C
R239 G58 B71
#EF3A47
Gold Thread
C0 M32 Y100 K0
130 C
R253 G181 B21
#FDB515
Green Thread
C93 M0 Y98 K17
348 C
R0 G150 B71
#009647
Teal Thread
C100 M0 Y29 K24
7713 C
R0 G143 B145
#008F91
Blue Thread
C100 M75 Y6 K24
288 C
R4 G54 B115
#043673
Highlands Sky Blue
C100 M11 Y3 K12
640 C
R0 G123 B192
#007BC0
Campus Palette | Insightful, Conscientious, Creative, Pragmatic, Entrepreneurial
Machinery Hall Tan
C15 M15 Y30 K15
7535 C
R188 G180 B158
#BCB49E
Kittanning Brick Beige
C4 M4 Y13 K8
7534 C
R228 G218 B196
#E4DAC4
Hornbostel Teal
C90 M18 Y32 K54
7476 C
R31 G76 B76
#1F4C4C
Palladian Green
C47 M6 Y28 K18
624 C
R113 G159 B148
#719F94
Weaver Blue
C100 M62 Y12 K62
7463 C
R25 G44 B75
#182C4B
Skibo Red
C0 M96 Y77 K42
7623 C
R149 G17 B32
#941120
The Tartan (as a color)
In addition to the core colors, the Carnegie Mellon University Tartan, first commissioned in 1967 for academic hoods, can also be used as an official "color."
Tartan can only be used in full color, monochromatic red or monochromatic gray. The only acceptable Tartans are:
Original Wool | the original fabric from the Carnegie clan
Digital Tartan | a digital re-creation of Carnegie's original wool Tartan, illustrated in 2010 for the center of the Seal
Tartan Straight | created in 2017, uses a series of single width rules in exact pattern and proportions as the original Carnegie Tartan
Tartan Wave | a dynamic wave effect applied to the Tartan Straight to bring energy and depth to the Tartan
