Color, Patterns and Papers

Primary colors

The Wake Forest University colors are Old Gold and black. These are the traditional colors of our University and evoke a rich heritage that has been part of Wake Forest since our founding.

Old Gold suggests prestige and nobility, qualities that reflect the stature of our institution. Yet it is also a warm color, indicating the humanity at the heart of our achievements. Old Gold is generally best when used in judicious amounts rather than as the dominant color in an application.

Black is the color of boldness and strength, reflected in the confidence and courage that characterize the Wake Forest academic culture.

For examples of appropriate use of the primary palette, please refer to the Marketing & Brand Examples in this guide.

Always reproduce colors using the formulas specified in this guide. Do not use the standard software translation values when converting PMS colors to CMYK or RGB. Always reproduce the colors in the Primary Palette at 100%; do not screen.

Web text colors

Wake Forest Old Gold has been darkened slightly for text on the web to aid in accessibility and should be used on a white background. This is for website visitors with visual disabilities who are more easily able to read text with color contrast ratios of 4.5:1 or greater and is required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Visit our accessibility guidelines page for more information. 

The black used for website text is a slightly softer shade. This lighter tone reduces the harsh contrast with a white background, creating text that appears smoother and more comfortable to read.

Secondary colors

The secondary colors for Wake Forest University are a warm yellow-gold, the athletics gold and dark gray. These colors support our primary colors while offering variety.

Pattern designs

There are three official background patterns available for use in your materials: a classic pinstripe; a diamond grid of the WF ironwork seen in various locations on campus; and organic arches, inspired by the shape of the W inside the shield logo. These can be downloaded in eps and png format from the Templates folder.

Paper choices

Stationery

The paper stock for all stationery items is Neenah Environment PC100 White. It is a 100-percent post-consumer-waste (PCW), FSC-certified paper. To order stationery, set up an account through Allegra Printing, our approved supplier. You can order customized business cards, letterhead, envelopes and note cards on their site. 

Collateral materials

Uncoated paper stock is preferred in nearly all applications.

Wake Forest University is committed to environmental responsibility, as reflected in its selection of recycled paper stocks for official University communications. For questions about paper stock usage, contact UMC.