Color

Color is one of the most recognizable elements of our brand. By extracting hues from NC State’s history and from the people, places and things on our modern campus, we’ve created a large palette that resonates visually and reflects exactly who we are.

Our Core Palette

NC State’s core palette consists of three colors: Wolfpack Red, Wolfpack White and Wolfpack Black. These colors should feature more prominently than any others in NC State communications. In all communications using color, Wolfpack Red should dominate. We are, always, the Red and White of NC State.

Building Sign - Nelson Hall

Wolfpack Red reinforces the brand around campus.

Wolfpack Red

HEX #CC0000
RGB 204 0 0
CMYK 0 100 81 4
PMS 186 C

Wolfpack Black

HEX #000000
RGB 0 0 0
CMYK 0 0 0 100

Wolfpack White

HEX #FFFFFF
RGB 255 255 255
CMYK 0 0 0 0

facts and figures brochure

Red Is Dominant

Wherever you are, you can spot NC State supporters by the Wolfpack Red they wear. The same is true of communications from the university. When Wolfpack Red is your dominant color — in print, online or on promotional items — your audience will know you speak for NC State.

Our Expanded Palette

Our expanded palette features seven colors that complement each other and, more importantly, complement Wolfpack Red, Black and White.

screengrab of modes for transportation in the institutional

The expanded palette was used throughout the institutional message.

Reynolds Red

HEX #990000
RGB 153 0 0
CMYK 24 100 100 24
PMS 7622C

Pyroman Flame

HEX #D14905
RGB 209 73 5
CMYK 0 76 100 0
PMS 166C

Hunt Yellow

HEX #FAC800
RGB 250 200 0
CMYK 0 20 100 2
PMS 7408 C

Genomic Green

HEX #6F7D1C
RGB 111 125 28
CMYK 46 6 100 42
PMS 7496C

Carmichael Aqua

HEX #008473
RGB 0 132 115
CMYK 87 34 51 11
PMS 3282 C

Innovation Blue

HEX #427E93
RGB 66 126 147
CMYK 75 38 26 1
PMS 7697C

Bio-indigo

HEX #4156A1
RGB 65 86 161
CMYK 86 78 5 0
PMS 2726 C

Screencap of the Hunt Library site's yellow navigation

Do not use white type on Hunt Yellow because there is not enough contrast between the colors to ensure accessibility and legibility. Use black type instead.

Screencap of one of ncsu.edu's fact modules

When using white type on colors from the expanded palette, make sure that all text is at least 18 pt size for roman type or 14 pt size for bold type.

Paper showing NC State brand color tints and shades

A range of tints and shades area available for each brand color. These can be used to create single-color design and illustration work with a range of values. PDF guides can be found in the color section of the Assets page.

Photo of two spreads from the College of Veterniary Medicine's brochure

If you use the expanded palette, use at least two of the colors throughout your website or publication. Varying secondary colors reduces their prominence and keeps them subordinate to Wolfpack Red, Black and White.

Red, for Starters (and Finishers)

As the dominant color in our core palette, Wolfpack Red should be the entry and exit point of your communications. That means generous splashes of red on front and back covers of printed documents, red title and closing slides on videos, red in the header and footer on websites.

talley interior lobby chairs
Photograph of printed annual report

Enter and Exit on Red

The 2013 Chancellor’s Report puts our core and secondary palettes to good use. In photos and page designs, it presents the wide array of hues available under our brand and bookends them with Wolfpack Red on the front and back covers.

Downloadable Palettes

We’ve created swatches that take the work out of getting our colors into the Adobe Creative Suite. To use the files, open the Swatches palette in your program and click on the top right menu. Select "Open Swatch Library" and then select “Other Library.” Navigate to where the downloaded swatch file is located on your computer.