BRAND

FUNDAMENTALS

COLOR THEORY

Color is a strategic tool and can be used effectively to create place identity, tell meaningful stories and provide information for wayfinding. Nike uses color with specific intent, rather than simply for decoration.

Accessibility

For legibility, use high contrasting colors to convey information (e.g., wayfinding signage). Color cannot be the only means of conveying vital information, however (e.g., on fire alarms), as people with colorblindness may be unable to distinguish it.
Graphics that create visual vibrations should be avoided within the workplace. This is especially important for small spaces, such as focus rooms.
Avoid applying a single color continuously across all or most surfaces (e.g., painting floors, walls, and furniture all black). This could become disorienting and be an impairment for all users.

Color Palette

Nike’s core color palette of black, white, and tonal grays, should always be supplemented by an extended palette of curated colors derived from relevant sources such as Nike product, team colorways, or historical sporting palettes. When used in wayfinding, the strategic use of color should be distinguishable from the many other colors and materials that feature in the environment.

The RAL colors shown below are indicative of our most commonly used colors. Please consult local paint suppliers for exact color matches.

Core Colors

This foundational palette provides a neutral background for color-based storytelling, and delivers consistency across workplace environments.

Heritage Colors

These are the orange hues of Nike shoeboxes from different eras throughout our history. Historical colors are Evergreen, but should used carefully on a situational basis to connect with foundational Brand stories.

This palette of blues references Nike's earliest days, as innovative new running shoes were being designed under the name of Blue Ribbon Studio.

At Nike, the color 'Volt' has long been used to convey the intense energy and essence of future sport. In the workplace environment, limit the use of Volt to accents that do not cover a large amount of space.

Supplemental Colors

Supplemental color palettes are project-specific, selected for their connections to relevant Nike-sponsored sport teams or Nike product stories, or for their relation to meaningful local and regional references. The colors on the left are examples of pallets from previous projects, and not intended to be direction for future work.

Color Application

Color treatments can be used to great effect when highlighting a specific architectural feature, such as a corridor, stairwell, or elevator lobby - particularly when distinguishing it from a similar feature nearby. The chosen color is most effective when it provides high contrast and visual interest, and is paired with a complementary color to create a clear visual hierarchy.

Color can also be used to define zones or guide movement through a space. For example, it can be used to delineate a specific route or pathway. In these cases, it's helpful to reinforce the color use on maps or other wayfinding tools, such as signage or digital displays, to create a cohesive and intuitive navigation experience.

Examples

Overtaking the corners at either end of a long corridor in distinct colors (e.g., royal blue and teal) provides visual points of interest and gives identity to different regions of the environment.

The red on this bench's upholstery connects it visually to the adjacent red-painted conference room and spans the story of Nike's Air-Force-1 across multiple spaces.

When introducing color into a workplace environment, keep in mind some best practices:

Choose colors that relate specifically to the Nike Brand and support brand storytelling.
Look for unconventional ways to apply color that create moments of surprise and inspiration.
Consider how color impacts the energy of a space (hot or cool; intense or calming), and make decisions that support space function.
Take care to align colors across spaces and materials, ensuring good matches between paints and fabrics, and other surfaces and finishes

Do not

Apply color when it has no specific function or connection to brand storytelling.
Feature colors that represent competitor brands.