Colors

Our university brand uses a hierarchy of color palettes outlined below. These colors are a strong and unique element of every piece that we create, and allow our communications to be focused, unified, and recognizable as the West Chester University brand. Always use the correct colors when using these colors in digital and print work. Please consider contrast, legibility, and ADA compliance when designing with the color palette.

UNIVERSITY CLASSIC

Purple and Gold are our classic colors, still used around campus and in Athletics.

Classic Purple
Pantone 269
CMYK: 11/25/0/57
Digital: R-81 G-45 B-109
Hex: #512d6d

Classic Gold
Pantone 123
CMYK: 0/22/83/0
Digital: R-255, G-199, B-44
Hex: #ffc72c

BRAND PRIMARY

These updated versions of Purple and Gold are the primary colors for our new brand work. They are bold, fresh, and versatile.

Elemental Purple
Pantone 7449
CMYK: 76/88/44/49
Digital: R-56 G-33 B-64
Hex #382140

Elemental Gold
Pantone Yellow
CMYK: 0/5/100/0
Digital: R-255 G-232 B-0
Hex #ffe800

BRAND SECONDARY

These secondary colors expand and complement our brand color palette. When applied strategically, they add visual depth and dynamics to our brand communication.

Accent Purple
Pantone 7657
CMYK: 58/92/34/20
Digital: R-110 G-48 B-97
Hex #6e3061

Accent Gold
Pantone 7555
CMYK: 18/36/100/0
Digital: R-212 G-161 B-41
Hex #d4a129

Digital Color Use

When creating new digital content within the brand for West Chester University, it is important to ensure the contrast between colors is high enough to pass WCAG 2.0 AA accessibility standards. This grid provides an overview of the WCU campaign primary and secondary colors, and the level of contrast that exists between each. Reference the left of the grid for the intended background color and the respective cells the intended text color.

Any color combinations with AA designation need to be at a font size of 1.15em or higher to pass ADA.

Color combinations in the chart which have a border do not pass accessibility requirements and cannot be used.

Color and Hex Wh: #FFFFFF EG: #FFE800 CG: #FFAE2E AG: #D4A129 AP: #6E3061 CP: #4B257D EP: #382140 Bl: #000000
White
#FFFFFF

 

Text
1.25

Text
1.8

Text
2.3

Text
9
AAA

Text
11
AAA

Text
14
AAA

Text
21
AAA
Elemental Gold
#FFE800

Text
1.2

 

Text
1.5

Text
1.9

Text
7.4
AAA

Text
9
AAA

Text
12
AAA

Text
16.8
AAA
Classic Gold
#FFAE2E

Text
1.8

Text
1.5

 

Text
1.2

Text
5
AA

Text
6.1
AA

Text
7.8
AAA

Text
11.3
AAA
Accent Gold
#D4A129

Text
2.3

Text
1.9

Text
1.2

 

Text
4
AA

Text
4.8
AA

Text
6.1
AA

Text
8.9
AAA
Accent Purple
#6E3061

Text
9
AAA

Text
7.4
AAA

Text
5
AA

Text
4
AA

 

Text
1.2

Text
1.5

Text
2.3
Classic Purple
#4B257D

Text
11
AAA

Text
9
AAA

Text
6.1
AA

Text
4.8
AA

Text
1.2

 

Text
1.3

Text
1.9
Elemental Purple
#382140

Text
14
AAA

Text
12
AAA

Text
7.8
AAA

Text
6.1
AAA

Text
1.5

Text
1.3

 

Text
1.5
Black
#000000

Text
21
AAA

Text
16.8
AAA

Text
11.3
AAA

Text
8.9
AAA

Text
2.3

Text
1.9

Text
1.5