For unordered series (lines, bars, pies). Order matters: when you have only N series, use the first N — they're sequenced by perceptual distinction, not brand pecking order.

01
Steady Blue
#061A49
02
Radiant Gold
#CD9F36
03
Clean Slate
#1E4D5C
04
Honest Ochre
#B55312
05
Intentional Blue
#2531A5
06
Calm Blue
#ACCDD9
07
Neutral 600
#6B6B6B
08
Grounded Black
#1F1E1E

Order: Steady Blue → Radiant Gold → Clean Slate → Honest Ochre → Intentional Blue → Calm Blue → Neutral → Grounded Black. Steady Blue + Radiant Gold are the most contrasting pair — they read first.

When you have 2–4 series, use this subset. It's the brand's strongest read at a glance.

All four pass WCAG AA against Clear White text at large sizes. For chart labels on white, use --ink-default — never the chart color.

For magnitude (heatmaps, choropleths, gradient bars). Light = low; dark = high. Each ramp anchors on a brand color and walks toward Clear White.

Steady Blue · Sequential
10
20
40
60
80
90
100
Clean Slate · Sequential
10
20
40
60
80
90
100
Radiant Gold · Sequential
10
20
40
60
80
90
100
Honest Ochre · Sequential
10
20
40
60
80
90
100

For comparisons centered on zero (sentiment, change-from-baseline, surplus/deficit). Slate at the negative end, neutral cream in the middle, Ochre at the positive end. Use when the midpoint matters as a reference.

−5
−4
−3
−2
−1
0
+1
+2
+3
+4
+5
Bar · Categorical 4

Engagements by quarter

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
Line · 3 series

Coaching hours · 2024–2026

Leadership Team Facilitation
Sequential · Heatmap

Activity intensity

Divergent · Sentiment

Survey responses

−2 −1 −.5 +.5 +1
Colorblind safety

Test with simulators

The 4-series subset (Steady Blue · Radiant Gold · Clean Slate · Honest Ochre) is differentiable under deuteranopia and protanopia. Validate any chart with color-blind simulators before shipping.

Pair with shape

Color is never alone

Add patterns, line styles (solid / dashed / dotted), or labels to every series. Color carries the read; shape carries the meaning when color fails.

Chart type

Calm beats clever

Pick the simplest chart that answers the question. The brand prefers a clear bar to a fancy radial. Reserve flourish for true narrative moments.

Type in charts

League Spartan 500 · 9–11px

Axis labels and legend entries: League Spartan 500 at 10px with +0.06em tracking. Number values: League Spartan 500. Never Lora — italics in charts read as casual.

Do

Order categorical series by perceptual distinction (the order on this page) — not by brand hierarchy.

Don't

Don't reach for Calm Blue or low-saturation tints as the primary series — they fade against white.

Do

Use sequential ramps when magnitude matters; categorical only when the categories are distinct.

Don't

Don't use the rainbow / spectral ramp. It implies an ordering that doesn't exist.

Do

Annotate the chart in plain prose. The headline should say what's happening; the chart should prove it.

Don't

Don't make the user squint at a tooltip to find the takeaway.