Colours

Colour is a powerful thing. It can affect attitudes and moods, and we associate certain colours with certain brands. Sometimes, it’s subconscious. That’s why it’s important that all the materials we produce use our brand colour palette—it reinforces our brand personality and helps make TRU instantly recognizable.

Colour palette

The TRU colours are inspired by our landscape. Blue, Sage, Grey and Cloud carry a quiet, calm confidence. Teal and Yellow offer punches of bright colour. Together they form our palette. View our Downloads for some examples of these colours in action.

Colour Specs

Secondary colour palette—for web only

The secondary colour palette is only used on the web, to help distinguish elements such as buttons, Calls to Action, dividers, etc.

Colour usage

Using the palette

Some colours work better together than others. The combinations below illustrate which colours can be used together.

How many colours should I use?

In most cases, less is more—use two or three colours that work well together per page.

Legibility

Keep body copy in black or high contrast colours only. Yellow, Grey and Sage should only be used for large headings. Make sure there’s enough contrast between type and background colours.

Black & white

Black and white also belong in the colour palette. White can be used for backgrounds and for reversed text. Any colour in the palette works well with white. Black can be used for body text. In black and white materials, black can also be used as a background colour.

TRU Blue

• TRU Sage
  OK

• White
  OK

• TRU Yellow
  OK

• Powder Blue
  OK

Any colour in the palette works on TRU Blue.

TRU Cloud

• TRU Sage
  OK

• TRU Blue
  OK

• TRU Yellow
  OK

• Powder Blue
  OK

• TRU Teal
  OK

Any colour in the palette works on TRU Cloud.

TRU Grey

• TRU Blue
  OK

• White
  OK

• TRU Yellow
  OK

• TRU Cloud
  OK

TRU Blue, White, TRU Yellow and TRU Cloud work on Powder Blue.

TRU Teal

• TRU Blue
  OK

• White
  OK

• TRU Cloud
  OK

• TRU Yellow
  OK

TRU Blue, White, TRU Cloud and TRU Yellow work on TRU Teal.

TRU Sage

• TRU Blue
  OK

• White
  OK

• TRU Cloud
  OK

TRU Blue, TRU Cloud and White work on TRU Sage.

White

• TRU Sage
  OK

• TRU Blue
  OK

• TRU Yellow
  OK

• Powder Blue
  OK

• TRU Teal
  OK

Any colour in the palette works on White.

Colour don'ts

Some colours don't work well together. Avoid the colour combinations shown here.

Too low-contrast

• No

• No

• No

• No

• No

• No

• No

Don’t use colours that are too low-contrast and are hard to read. In the above example, TRU Yellow vibrates on this background and shouldn't be used.

Black Headlines

• No

Don't set headlines in black, except on greyscale pieces. Black body copy is always okay.

Black background

• No

• No

• No

• No

• No

In full colour materials, avoid large areas of black—use one of the brand colours instead.

Yellow background

• No

Yellow should only be used as an accent colour—don't use it for backgrounds.

Checklist

• Use acceptable colour combinations
• Ensure type is legible
• Use no more than three colours unless the additional colours aid in communication