COWI is stylish grey with a twist of orange. Our colour palette uses a wide range of colours with emphasis on cold and warm grey scales as our primary colour palette is grey, which symbolizes iron and concrete mixed with nature and the environment. The primary accent colour is orange, which symbolises our knowledge. Green, the other primary accent colour, can be used to highlight e.g. sustainability. A secondary and tertiary palette can supplement the primary colours when needed.

The COWI colours are used as a marker of space, text and for graphic illustrations in e.g. presentations and online media.

Colours The primary colours must always be reproduced correctly. On print, the colours can vary from one paper quality to another. We strongly recommend that you use the paper quality suggested in the guidelines (link), which is the quality the colours have also been tested on.

For printed materials

CMYK: Process colours used in most printed publications.
Pantone (PMS): Is a staffage colour to be used whenever printing with few colours, e.g. stationery and serigraphy prints.

For screens

RGB: To be used for PowerPoint and Word.
HEX: To be used on the web.

Signage

RAL: Paint colours for signage.
3M: Folio colours which can be cut out and mounted on e.g. walls xxx
NCS: Reference colours for paint e.g. walls.
RAL: Reference colours when NCS and PMS cannot be used e.g. car paint.

Primary colours

The primary colours must always be reproduced correctly. We recommend that you use the suggested paper quality listed in the guidelines (link). The primary colours must be applied to +90 per cent of the design. Of the +90 per cent, the orange and green colours may only be applied to 10 per cent of the overall design.

Secondary colours

Secondary colours are to be used in information graphics and other relevant places e.g. as highlights. Secondary colours must only be applied to a maximum of 10 per cent of the overall design.

Tertiary colour

Tertiary colours are to be used in information graphics and other relevant places e.g. as highlights. Tertiary colours must only be applied to a maximum of 10 per cent of the overall design.

Do's and don'ts

• Colours not listed in the colour palette must not be used.
  
• Always ensure that the visual impression of the overall design is stylish grey with a twist of orange. Orange, green or any of the secondary or tertiary colours must only be applied to a maximum of 10 per cent of the overall design.
  
• Always ensure that the overall design appears clean, stylish with a Scandinavian touch.