Blue and purple circle and ripple pattern over dark blue

VIU colour guide

The VIU palette contains many colours that reflect our place on Vancouver Island. It is a palette inspired by the colours of nature in the Pacific Northwest.

A palette showing white, five shades of blue, three shades of purple, three shades of green, two shades of red and one shade of yellow.

We recommend five different grouping options for using the palette:

  • True Blue
  • White and Blue
  • Alpine
  • Ocean's Edge
  • Sunrise

The grouping and colour names will make conversations about design easier. 

Balancing colours

On these groupings you will see primary, secondary and accent colours. Choose one of each for your design. To create a balanced design use the colour types in this way:

  • Primary colour should take up 70% of your design
  • Secondary colour should take up 20% of your design
  • Accent colour should take up only 10% of your design

Colour tables

The colour tables include the values for the colours for different uses: 

  • Pantone for print
  • CMYK for print
  • RGB for digital
  • Hex for digital

It's important that you use the right colour profile and colour values. Always used CMYK or Pantone for print projects. And always use RGB or Hex for digital projects. 

Recommended groupings

Print table

Colour name Pantone  CMYK Values RGB Values Hex code
VIU Blue 302 C C: 100; M: 48; Y: 12; K: 58 R: 0; G: 59; B: 92  #003B5C
Mariners Blue 7689 C C: 77; M: 25; Y: 6; K: 0 R: 0; G: 133; B: 202 #0085CA
Lagoon 311 C C: 54; M: 0; Y: 0; K: 0 NA NA
Glacier  656 C C: 10; M: 2; Y: 0; K: 0 R: 202; G: 248; B: 255 #CAF8FF

Digital table

Colour name Pantone  CMYK Values RGB Values Hex code
VIU Blue 302 C C: 100; M: 48; Y: 12; K: 58 R: 0; G: 59; B: 92  #003B5C
Mariners Blue 7689 C C: 77; M: 25; Y: 6; K: 0 R: 0; G: 133; B: 202 #0085CA
Elecric Lagoon NA NA  R: 9; G; 235; B 255 #09EBFF
Glacier  656 C C: 10; M: 2; Y: 0; K: 0 R: 202; G: 248; B: 255 #CAF8FF

True Blue

True Blue print

A swatch of four shades of blue

In this grouping:

  • Primary colour: VIU Blue
  • Secondary colour: Mariners Blue
  • Accent colours:  Lagoon or Glacier. Choose one.

True blue digital

A swatch of four shades of blue

In this grouping:

  • Primary colour: VIU Blue
  • Secondary colour: Mariners Blue
  • Accent colours:  Electric Lagoon or Glacier. Choose one.

Print table

Colour name Pantone  CMYK Values RGB Values Hex code
White  11-0601X C:0; M: 0; Y 0; K: 0 R: 255; G: 255; B: 255 #FFFFFF
VIU Blue 302 C C: 100; M: 48; Y: 12; K: 58 R: 0; G: 59; B: 92  #003B5C
Mariners Blue 7689 C C: 77; M: 25; Y: 6; K: 0 R: 0; G: 133; B: 202 #0085CA
Lagoon NA C: 54; M: 0; Y: 0; K: 0 NA NA
Glacier  656 C C: 10; M: 2; Y: 0; K: 0 R: 202; G: 248; B: 255 #CAF8FF

Digital table

Colour name Pantone  CMYK Values RGB Values Hex code
White  11-0601X C:0; M: 0; Y 0; K: 0 R: 255; G: 255; B: 255 #FFFFFF
VIU Blue 302 C C: 100; M: 48; Y: 12; K: 58 R: 0; G: 59; B: 92  #003B5C
Mariners Blue 7689 C C: 77; M: 25; Y: 6; K: 0 R: 0; G: 133; B: 202 #0085CA
Electric Lagoon NA NA  R: 9; G; 235; B 255 #09EBFF
Glacier  656 C C: 10; M: 2; Y: 0; K: 0 R: 202; G: 248; B: 255 #CAF8FF

White and Blue

White and Blue print

A swatch showing white and four shades of blue

In this grouping:

  • Primary colour: White
  • Secondary colour: VIU Blue
  • Accent colours: Lagoon or Glacier. Choose one. 

White and Blue digital

A swatch of colours showing white and four shades of blue

In this grouping:

  • Primary colour: White
  • Secondary colour: VIU Blue
  • Accent colours: Electric Lagoon or Glacier. Choose one. 
Colour name Pantone  CMYK Values RGB Values Hex code
Midnight 539 C C:100; M: 65; Y: 22; K: 80 R: 0; G: 33; B: 51 #002133
Mountain shadow 2685 C C: 90; M: 99; Y: 0; K: 8 R: 58; G: 58: 173 #3A3AAD
Lupine  2725 C C: 76; M: 76; Y: 0; K: 0 R: 104; G: 81; B: 231 #6851E7
Crocus 2705 C C: 40; M: 36; Y: 0; K: 0 R: 175; G: 161; B: 255 #AFA1FF

Alpine

A swatch of colours showing white, two shades of blue and three shades of purple.

In this grouping:

  • Primary colours: Midnight or White or VIU Blue. Choose one. 
  • Secondary colour: Mountain Shadow.
  • Accent colours: Lupine or Crocus. Choose one.
Colour name Pantone  CMYK Values RGB Values Hex code
Midnight 539 C C:100; M: 65; Y: 22; K: 80 R: 0; G: 33; B: 51 #002133
Kelp  3305 C C: 100; M: 1; Y: 67; K: 62 R: 1; G: 75; B: 65 #014B41
Sea Glass 2242 C C: 99; M: 0; Y: 64; K: 5 R: 0; G: 160; B: 118 #00A075
New Growth 2412 C C: 48; M: 0; Y: 45; K: 0 R: 94; G: 234; B: 150 #5EEA96

Ocean's Edge

A swatch of colours showing white, blue and three shades of green

In this grouping:

  • Primary colours: Midnight or White. Choose one. 
  • Secondary colour: Kelp.
  • Accent colours:  Sea Glass or New Growth. Choose one.
Colour name Pantone  CMYK Values RGB Values Hex code
Midnight 539 C C:100; M: 65; Y: 22; K: 80 R: 0; G: 33; B: 51 #002133
Currant  7644 C C: 5; M: 81; Y: 0; K: 79 R: 84; G: 45; B: 64 #582D40
Arbutus 2032 C C: 1; M: 70; Y: 52; K: 4 R: 211; G: 84; B: 84 #D35454
Yellow Cedar 2016 C C: 0; M: 33; Y: 57; K: 0 R: 251; G: 186; B: 114 #FBBA72

Sunrise

A colour swatch showing white, a dark blue, 2 earthy reds, and a yellow.

In this grouping:

  • Primary colours: White or Midnight
  • Secondary colour: Currant
  • Accent colours: Arbutus or Yellow Cedar. Choose one. 

Colour contrast

In all material, print and digital, you need sufficient contrast so your message can be easily read and understood. For colour combinations not outlined here, use a contrast colour checker. 

White text or background

When your text or background is white, you can use these colours:

  • Midnight
  • VIU Blue
  • Mariners Blue
  • Kelp
  • Mountain Shadow
  • Lupine
  • Currant

Do not use these colours with white text or background:

  • Electric Lagoon (digital)
  • Lagoon
  • Glacier
  • Crocus 
  • New Growth
  • Yellow Cedar

Black text or background

When your text or background is black or dark, use these colours:

  • Electric Lagoon
  • Lagoon
  • Glacier
  • Crocus
  • New Growth 
  • Yellow Cedar

Do not use these colours with dark text or background:

  • Midnight
  • VIU Blue
  • Mariners Blue
  • Kelp
  • Mountain Shadow
  • Lupine
  • Currant