Colors Encyclopedia

Brand colors

Harvard Brand Colors

Harvard palette: #A51C30, #FFFFFF, #000000. Compare HEX/RGB, WCAG contrast and CSS tokens; open independent JSON data.

Commonly referenced brand color values. This page is an independent technical reference and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Harvard.

EducationBrand indexAPIDataset
Commonly referenced palette Harvard
#A51C30#FFFFFF#000000
Listed without an implied color hierarchy

Palette

Palette color 1#A51C30RGB 165, 28, 48
White#FFFFFFRGB 255, 255, 255
Black#000000RGB 0, 0, 0

CSS Tokens

:root {
  --brand-harvard-1: #A51C30;
  --brand-harvard-2: #FFFFFF;
  --brand-harvard-3: #000000;
}

Accessibility Snapshot

#A51C30Black 2.81:1 / White 7.48:1
#FFFFFFBlack 21:1 / White 1:1
#000000Black 1:1 / White 21:1

Brand palette context · Editorially reviewed

About Harvard Brand Colors

Harvard’s identity standards specify Harvard Crimson as #A51C30 and describe accurate reproduction as essential to the effectiveness of the university identity. The color is not an interchangeable generic red: the guide distinguishes screen, coated-print, and uncoated-print starting points and advises proofing against the relevant physical reference when production accuracy matters.

Crimson carries institutional recognition while white and a near-black ink provide the stable editorial framework around it. Harvard’s digital design guidance restricts the Veritas shield to approved crimson, black, or white treatments and prohibits alterations. For independent design analysis, the palette illustrates how a deep red can function as both heritage cue and actionable accent without filling every surface.

This unaffiliated page does not reproduce Harvard insignia, represent the university, authorize use of its name or marks, or replace its current identity policies.

Downloadable brand colors infographic

Harvard Brand Colors Infographic

Save an independent infographic of the commonly referenced Harvard HEX palette and its accessibility guidance. No logo or proprietary artwork is included.

1200 × 800
Harvard brand colors infographic showing its commonly referenced HEX palette and accessibility guidance for every listed color without assigning a color hierarchy.
Harvard brand colors infographic. Commonly referenced brand color values. This page is an independent technical reference and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Harvard.
Download WebPDownload SVGOpen full size

Machine-readable data

Machine-Readable Brand Color Data (JSON)

Structured brand palette data for design systems, references, automations, and AI ingestion.

AI-Ready Dataset v1.0.0
Luminance0.0904
Black text2.81:1AA Fail
White text7.48:1AA Pass
hexCanonical HEX value
rgbRed, green, blue channels
hslHue, saturation, lightness
cmykApproximate print conversion
wcagAA and AAA contrast options
harmoniesMathematical harmony sets
variantsGenerated tone variants
nearestColorsKnowledge graph neighbors
Download JSON Open API
Structured sections
Brand
{
  "slug": "harvard",
  "name": "Harvard",
  "category": "education",
  "brandCategory": [
    "Education",
    "education"
  ],
  "url": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/brand-colors/harvard/",
  "categoryUrl": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/brand-colors/education/",
  "disclaimer": "Commonly referenced brand color values. This page is an independent technical reference and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Harvard."
}
Palette
[
  {
    "name": "Palette color 1",
    "hex": "#A51C30",
    "rgb": [
      165,
      28,
      48
    ],
    "hsl": [
      351,
      71,
      38
    ],
    "cmyk": [
      0,
      83,
      71,
      35
    ],
    "luminance": 0.0904,
    "contrast": {
      "black": 2.81,
      "white": 7.48
    },
    "wcag": {
      "AA": [
        "#FFFFFF",
        "#F5F5F5"
      ],
      "AAA": [
        "#FFFFFF"
      ]
    }
  },
  {
    "name": "White",
    "hex": "#FFFFFF",
    "rgb": [
      255,
      255,
      255
    ],
    "hsl": [
      0,
      0,
      100
    ],
    "cmyk": [
      0,
      0,
      0,
      0
    ],
    "luminance": 1,
    "contrast": {
      "black": 21,
      "white": 1
    },
    "wcag": {
      "AA": [
        "#000000",
        "#1A1A1A",
        "#36454F"
      ],
      "AAA": [
        "#000000",
        "#1A1A1A",
        "#36454F"
      ]
    }
  },
  {
    "name": "Black",
    "hex": "#000000",
    "rgb": [
      0,
      0,
      0
    ],
    "hsl": [
      0,
      0,
      0
    ],
    "cmyk": [
      0,
      0,
      0,
      100
    ],
    "luminance": 0,
    "contrast": {
      "black": 1,
      "white": 21
    },
    "wcag": {
      "AA": [
        "#FFFFFF",
        "#F5F5F5"
      ],
      "AAA": [
        "#FFFFFF",
        "#F5F5F5"
      ]
    }
  }
]
AI context
{
  "brandUseCases": [
    "university identity",
    "campus web systems",
    "institutional design",
    "brand reference",
    "design systems",
    "CSS tokens",
    "accessibility checks"
  ],
  "semanticGroups": [
    "education brand colors",
    "red brand palette",
    "gray brand palette",
    "warm brand palette",
    "neutral brand palette",
    "balanced brand color",
    "light brand color",
    "dark brand color",
    "Harvard color reference"
  ],
  "contrastSafeWith": [
    "#FFFFFF",
    "#F5F5F5",
    "#000000",
    "#1A1A1A",
    "#36454F"
  ],
  "relatedEndpoints": [
    "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/api/brand-colors/harvard.json",
    "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/api/brand-colors.json"
  ]
}
CSS tokens
{
  "css": "--brand-harvard-1: #A51C30;\n--brand-harvard-2: #FFFFFF;\n--brand-harvard-3: #000000;"
}
Accessibility
[
  {
    "hex": "#A51C30",
    "contrast": {
      "black": 2.81,
      "white": 7.48
    },
    "wcag": {
      "AA": [
        "#FFFFFF",
        "#F5F5F5"
      ],
      "AAA": [
        "#FFFFFF"
      ]
    }
  },
  {
    "hex": "#FFFFFF",
    "contrast": {
      "black": 21,
      "white": 1
    },
    "wcag": {
      "AA": [
        "#000000",
        "#1A1A1A",
        "#36454F"
      ],
      "AAA": [
        "#000000",
        "#1A1A1A",
        "#36454F"
      ]
    }
  },
  {
    "hex": "#000000",
    "contrast": {
      "black": 1,
      "white": 21
    },
    "wcag": {
      "AA": [
        "#FFFFFF",
        "#F5F5F5"
      ],
      "AAA": [
        "#FFFFFF",
        "#F5F5F5"
      ]
    }
  }
]
Full JSON dataset 
{
  "slug": "harvard",
  "name": "Harvard",
  "category": "education",
  "brandCategory": [
    "Education",
    "education"
  ],
  "disclaimer": "Commonly referenced brand color values. This page is an independent technical reference and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Harvard.",
  "datasetVersion": "1.0.0",
  "url": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/brand-colors/harvard/",
  "categoryUrl": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/brand-colors/education/",
  "apiUrl": "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/api/brand-colors/harvard.json",
  "colors": [
    {
      "name": "Palette color 1",
      "hex": "#A51C30",
      "rgb": [
        165,
        28,
        48
      ],
      "hsl": [
        351,
        71,
        38
      ],
      "cmyk": [
        0,
        83,
        71,
        35
      ],
      "luminance": 0.0904,
      "contrast": {
        "black": 2.81,
        "white": 7.48
      },
      "wcag": {
        "AA": [
          "#FFFFFF",
          "#F5F5F5"
        ],
        "AAA": [
          "#FFFFFF"
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "White",
      "hex": "#FFFFFF",
      "rgb": [
        255,
        255,
        255
      ],
      "hsl": [
        0,
        0,
        100
      ],
      "cmyk": [
        0,
        0,
        0,
        0
      ],
      "luminance": 1,
      "contrast": {
        "black": 21,
        "white": 1
      },
      "wcag": {
        "AA": [
          "#000000",
          "#1A1A1A",
          "#36454F"
        ],
        "AAA": [
          "#000000",
          "#1A1A1A",
          "#36454F"
        ]
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Black",
      "hex": "#000000",
      "rgb": [
        0,
        0,
        0
      ],
      "hsl": [
        0,
        0,
        0
      ],
      "cmyk": [
        0,
        0,
        0,
        100
      ],
      "luminance": 0,
      "contrast": {
        "black": 1,
        "white": 21
      },
      "wcag": {
        "AA": [
          "#FFFFFF",
          "#F5F5F5"
        ],
        "AAA": [
          "#FFFFFF",
          "#F5F5F5"
        ]
      }
    }
  ],
  "brandUseCases": [
    "university identity",
    "campus web systems",
    "institutional design",
    "brand reference",
    "design systems",
    "CSS tokens",
    "accessibility checks"
  ],
  "semanticGroups": [
    "education brand colors",
    "red brand palette",
    "gray brand palette",
    "warm brand palette",
    "neutral brand palette",
    "balanced brand color",
    "light brand color",
    "dark brand color",
    "Harvard color reference"
  ],
  "contrastSafeWith": [
    "#FFFFFF",
    "#F5F5F5",
    "#000000",
    "#1A1A1A",
    "#36454F"
  ],
  "relatedEndpoints": [
    "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/api/brand-colors/harvard.json",
    "https://www.colorsencyclopedia.com/api/brand-colors.json"
  ]
}
Dataset manifest Version 1.0.0 Build hash published in manifest Canonical page

Related Brand Color Guides

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