Background (from the Color section of the 2024 OHA Data Viz Guide)
The USAID Graphics Standard Manual lays out the two colors found in the agency’s logo as the primary branding color palette, USAID Blue and USAID Red. These colors are used to “reinforce that the aid is From the American people” but provide a limited range of colors to work with for data visualization.
OHA has developed an offshoot of these colors for visualization, expanding the number of categorical colors to choose from and creating a color-blind friendly palette (508 compliant). We started with primary USAID Blue and used a combination of platforms (Adobe Color, Viz Palette, Coolors, Behance, chroma.js, and Adobe Illustrator), to identify and then modifying an offshoot categorical palette. The USAID Red was dropped due to high saturation and often negative connotations associated with its use in Western culture to mean threat or danger. From there, we expanded the identified colors into a full palette of categorical and continuous/sequential colors using tints. We finally revisiting the USAID Blue, dropping the saturation roughly 20 percent to reduce the stark contrast when used to other graphic elements in the visualization.
In addition to the color encoding for the visuals, we have also identified an assortment of grays to be used for the chart elements. The application of these specific colors for the chart elements further enhances the visual’s look and feel as an OHA product.
Strategic use of the OHA palette allows for consistent branding and reduces the time needed to think through color choices in every visualization. That said, colors should be used meaningfully and thought should be given to how these standard colors accentuate the visual/message. If in doubt of what colors to use, try creating a visualization in black and white first. Then, add color to specific elements one at a time until data are sufficiently encoded to reinforce the message.
Outside of the visualization, default to using the USAID branding color palette and prescribed typeface for all banners, text, and text boxes. The USAID colors are available for use in graphs and charts, however the OHA palette is specifically for use in data visualization products (charts, graphs, visuals etc.).
Data Viz Guide Standalone Colors
The colors in this section are found in the OHA Data Viz Guide and
are stored in glitr as objects that can be directly
called/used.
OHA Secondary Palette
- orchid_bloom #E14BA1
- electric_indigo #3B5BBE
- sun_kissed #F9C555
- hunter #419164
- lavender_haze #876EC4
- tango #F36428
OHA Grays [Chart Elements] Palette
- nero [title]: #202020
- matterhorn [Subtitle/Body, Reference Line]: #505050
- suva_grey [Source/Note]: #909090
- whisper [Shaded Area]: #ebebeb
- light_grey [Grid Line]: #d3d3d3
USAID Secondary Palette
- usaid_black: #212721
- usaid_medblue: #0067b9
- usaid_lightblue: #a7c6ed
- usaid_darkgrey: #6c6463
- usaid_medgrey: #8C8985
- usaid_lightgrey: #cfcdc9
OHA Tints Colors
- midnight_blue_100 #15478A
- midnight_blue_80 #446CA1
- midnight_blue_60 #7391B9
- midnight_blue_40 #8AA3C5
- midnight_blue_20 #D0DAE8
- viking_100 #5BB5D5
- viking_80 #7CC4DD
- viking_60 #9DD3E6
- viking_40 #BDE1EE
- viking_20 #DEF0F7
- slate_100 #8C8C91
- slate_80 #A3A3A7
- slate_60 #BABABD
- slate_40 #D1D1D3
- slate_20 #E8E8E9
- electric_indigo_100 #3B5BBE
- electric_indigo_80 #627CCB
- electric_indigo_60 #899DD8
- electric_indigo_40 #B1BDE5
- electric_indigo_20 #D8DEF2
- orchid_bloom_100 #E14BA1
- orchid_bloom_80 #E571B0
- orchid_bloom_60 #EB95C4
- orchid_bloom_40 #F2B8D7
- orchid_bloom_20 #F8DCEB
- sun_kissed_100 #F9C555
- sun_kissed_80 #FAD177
- sun_kissed_60 #FBDC99
- sun_kissed_40 #FDE8BB
- sun_kissed_20 #FEF3DD
- hunter_100 #419164
- hunter_80 #67A784
- hunter_60 #8DBDA2
- hunter_40 #B3D3C1
- hunter_20 #D9E9E0
- lavender_haze_100 #876EC4
- lavender_haze_80 #9F8BD0
- lavender_haze_60 #B7A8DC
- lavender_haze_40 #CFC5E7
- lavender_haze_20 #E7E2F3
- tango_100 #F36428
- tango_80 #F58353
- tango_60 #F8A27E
- tango_40 #FAC1A9
- tango_20 #FDE0D4
Additional Standalone Colors
The colors in this section are supplemental colors that can be used
or referenced and are also in glitr as objects that can be
directly called/used.
Gray Palette from Laura D. Hughes who was inspired by Adobe #grays
- grey10k: #E6E7E8
- grey20k: #d1d3d4
- grey30k: #BCBEC0
- grey40k: #a7a9ac
- grey50k: #939598
- grey60k: #808080
- grey70k: #6d6e71
- grey80k: #58595b
- grey90k: #414042
Pantone Color of the Year (2000-2025)
- pantone_cerulean: #9BB7D4
- pantone_fuchsia_rose: #C74375
- pantone_true_red: #BF1932
- pantone_aqua_sky: #7BC4C4
- pantone_tigerlily: #E2583E
- pantone_blue_turquoise: #53B0AE
- pantone_sand_dollar: #DECDBE
- pantone_chili_pepper: #9B1B30
- pantone_blue_iris: #5A5B9F
- pantone_mimosa: #F0C05A
- pantone_honeysuckle : #D94F70
- pantone_turquoise : #45B5AA
- pantone_tangerine_tango: #DD4124
- pantone_emerald: #009473
- pantone_radiant_orchid: #AD5E99
- pantone_marsala: #964F4C
- pantone_serenity: #93A9D1
- pantone_rose_quartz: #F7CACA
- pantone_greenery: #88B04B
- pantone_ultra_violet: #5F4B8B
- pantone_living_coral: #FF6F61
- pantone_classic_blue: #0F4C81
- pantone_ultimate_gray: #939597
- pantone_illuminating: #F5DF4D
- pantone_very_peri: #6768AB
- pantone_viva_magenta: #BE3455
- pantone_peach_fuzz: #FEBE98
- pantone_mocha_mousse: #A47764
Palettes
These sets of palettes are stored as nested lists in the object
si_palettes. To see the full set in R, you can simply run
si_palettes in the command line. To access specific
palettes, you will need to call that list,
e.g. si_palettes$hunter_t, which will return the full set
of colors stored in that palette. You can also call a specific color in
that palette, e.g. si_palettes$hunter_t[3]
OHA
- siei: #15478A #5BB5D5 #8C8C91 #E14BA1 #3B5BBE #F9C555 #419164 #876EC4 #F36428
- siei_pairs: #15478A #7391B9 #5BB5D5 #9DD3E6 #8C8C91 #BABABD #3B5BBE #899DD8 #E14BA1 #EB95C4 #F9C555 #FBDC99 #419164 #8DBDA2 #876EC4 #B7A8DC #F36428 #F8A27E
- siei_achv: #F8A27E #FBDC99 #5BB5D5 #697EBC
- siei_agencies: #15478A #9DD3E6 #8DBDA2 #B7A8DC #BABABD
OHA Tints (Ordered)
- midnight_blue_t: #15478A #446CA1 #7391B9 #8AA3C5 #D0DAE8
- viking_t: #5BB5D5 #7CC4DD #9DD3E6 #BDE1EE #DEF0F7
- slate_t: #8C8C91 #A3A3A7 #BABABD #D1D1D3 #E8E8E9
- electric_indigo_t: #3B5BBE #627CCB #899DD8 #B1BDE5 #D8DEF2
- orchid_bloom_t: #E14BA1 #E571B0 #EB95C4 #F2B8D7 #F8DCEB
- sun_kissed_t: #F9C555 #FAD177 #FBDC99 #FDE8BB #FEF3DD
- hunter_t: #419164 #67A784 #8DBDA2 #B3D3C1 #D9E9E0
- lavender_haze_t: #876EC4 #9F8BD0 #B7A8DC #CFC5E7 #E7E2F3
- tango_t: #F36428 #F58353 #F8A27E #FAC1A9 #FDE0D4
OHA Discrete (Categorical/Ordered)
- midnight_blue_d: #15478A #5BB5D5 #8AA3C4 #9DD3E6 #8C8C91
- viking_d: #5BB5D5 #15478A #9DD3E6 #8AA3C4 #8C8C91
- electric_indigo_d: #3B5BBE #E14BA1 #F9C555 #876EC4 #419164
- orchid_bloom_d: #E14BA1 #3B5BBE #876EC4 #419164 #F9C555
- sun_kissed_d: #F9C555 #3B5BBE #5BB5D5 #F36428 #419164
- hunter_d: #419164 #5BB5D5 #E14BA1 #F9C555 #F36428
- lavender_haze_d: #876EC4 #F9C555 #3B5BBE #E14BA1 #5BB5D5
- tango_d: #F36428 #876EC4 #3B5BBE #419164 #F9C555
OHA Continuous (Categorical/Ordered)
- midnight_blue_c: #1d263e #26365b #354772 #485886 #5c6b98 #717ea8 #8791b7 #9ea5c5 #b5bad2 #cccfdf
- viking_c: #324d58 #3a5e6c #446f80 #508093 #5f92a6 #71a4b8 #86b5c9 #9ec7d8 #bad8e5 #dae8ef
- slate_c: #3f3f41 #4f4f51 #5f5f63 #707074 #828286 #939398 #a6a6aa #b9b9bb #ccccce #dfdfe0
- electric_indigo_c: #282d50 #333c6f #424c89 #545d9e #686fb1 #7c82c1 #9296ce #a8aada #bebfe3 #d4d4eb
- orchid_bloom_c: #5e2c46 #793559 #92416d #a9507f #be6192 #d075a4 #de8bb5 #eaa3c5 #f2bcd5 #f5d6e4
- sun_kissed_c: #66522d #796133 #8c703a #9f8043 #b2904f #c5a15c #d7b26e #e8c484 #f5d7a3 #faebd5
- hunter_c: #274131 #2f533d #3a654b #48775a #59896b #6c9b7e #82ad91 #9abfa7 #b5d0be #d1e1d6
- lavender_haze_c: #4f3e51 #644b67 #79597c #8d6990 #9f79a3 #b18bb4 #c29ec4 #d1b3d3 #dec8df #e9dfea
- tango_c: #65331e #803e22 #9a4a29 #b25934 #c86a42 #db7c55 #eb916b #f7a786 #febfa6 #fdd9cb
OHA Classic
- siei_classic: #2057a7 #c43d4d #8980cb #e07653 #1e87a5 #f2bc40 #287c6f #808080
- siei_classic_pairs: #2057a7 #BFDDFF #c43d4d #FF939A #8980cb #DFD3FF #e07653 #FFCAA2 #1e87a5 #83DBFB #f2bc40 #FFDDA2 #287c6f #7ECFC0 #808080 #E6E6E6
- siei_classic_achv: #FF939A #FFCAA2 #5BB5D5 #E6E6E6
- siei_classic_agencies: #2057A7 #83DBFB #7ECFC0 #8980CB #808080
OHA Classic Discrete (Ordered)
- denim: #2057a7 #1e87a5 #e07653 #f2bc40 #8980cb
- old_rose: #c43d4d #1e87a5 #8980cb #e07653 #287c6f
- moody_blue: #8980cb #287c6f #2057a7 #e07653 #1e87a5
- burnt_sienna: #e07653 #8980cb #f2bc40 #c43d4d #1e87a5
- scooter: #1e87a5 #c43d4d #8980cb #f2bc40 #287c6f
- golden_sand: #f2bc40 #2057a7 #287c6f #e07653 #8980cb
- genoa: #287c6f #8980cb #f2bc40 #e07653 #1e87a5
OHA Continuous
- denims: #bfddff #a5c5ff #8badfe #7396ee #5b82d8 #436ec1 #265bab #074895 #00347d #002065 #000c4f
- old_roses: #ffb5ba #ff989f #fc7a83 #ee636e #d8505d #c33c4c #af273d #990d2e #7f001c #630005 #480000
- moody_blues: #e9ddff #cfc3ff #b5aaf9 #9e94e0 #877ec9 #7069b2 #5a559b #454185 #2f2e6f #171d5a #000a45
- burnt_siennas: #ffd4ac #ffb790 #fd9873 #ec815d #d56d4b #bf5a39 #a84728 #923417 #7c2105 #670901 #4c0000
- scooters: #a6fdff #8ce4fe #74ccec #5bb5d5 #419fbe #228aa8 #047491 #005e7a #004964 #00354f #00223a
- golden_sands: #ffec6f #fcce52 #eab538 #d2a01e #ba8b00 #a27600 #8a6200 #734f00 #5e3c00 #4b2900 #3b1500
- genoas: #a0f2e2 #89dacb #72c3b4 #5cac9e #459688 #2d8073 #0d6c5f #01564b #004137 #002e24 #001b0e
- trolley_greys: #E6E7E8 #D5D7D8 #C4C6C8 #B3B5B8 #A3A4A8 #939598 #838484 #747576 #646568 #535356 #414042
Cartodb Colors
- carto_burgyl: #fbe6c5 #f5ba98 #ee8a82 #dc7176 #c8586c #9c3f5d #70284a
- carto_sunset: #fcde9c #faa476 #f0746e #e34f6f #dc3977 #b9257a #7c1d6f
- carto_teal: #d1eeea #a8dbd9 #85c4c9 #68abb8 #4f90a6 #3b738f #2a5674
- carto_dmint: #d2fbd4 #a5dbc2 #7bbcb0 #559c9e #3a7c89 #235d72 #123f5a
- carto_mint: #e4f1e1 #b4d9cc #89c0b6 #63a6a0 #448c8a #287274 #0d585f
- carto_brown: #ede5cf #e0c2a2 #d39c83 #c1766f #a65461 #813753 #541f3f
Carto Diverging
- carto_div_armyrose: #798234 #a3ad62 #d0d3a2 #fdfbe4 #f0c6c3 #df91a3 #d46780
- carto_div_fall: #3d5941 #778868 #b5b991 #f6edbd #edbb8a #de8a5a #ca562c
- carto_div_geyser: #008080 #70a494 #b4c8a8 #f6edbd #edbb8a #de8a5a #ca562c
- carto_div_temps: #009392 #39b185 #9ccb86 #e9e29c #eeb479 #e88471 #cf597e
- carto_div_teal: #009392 #72aaa1 #b1c7b3 #f1eac8 #e5b9ad #d98994 #d0587e
- carto_div_tropic: #009B9E #42B7B9 #A7D3D4 #F1F1F1 #E4C1D9 #D691C1 #C75DAB
- carto_div_earth: #A16928 #bd925a #d6bd8d #edeac2 #b5c8b8 #79a7ac #2887a1
Other
- pantone: #9BB7D4 #C74375 #BF1932 #7BC4C4 #E2583E #53B0AE #DECDBE #9B1B30 #5A5B9F #F0C05A #D94F70 #45B5AA #DD4124 #009473 #AD5E99 #964F4C #93A9D1 #F7CACA #88B04B #5F4B8B #FF6F61 #0F4C81 #939597 #F5DF4D #6768AB #BE3455 #FEBE98
- contrast: #E4F4EA #364352 #768491 #C5CAD0 #BE311F
- compliment: #6F472E #6F827C #E4F4EA #E4F4EA #E4F4EA
- outbreak_or: #F4E5D2 #FED79C #FBA529 #FF6600
- seablue: #4FAFB6 #98CBD0 #D5EAEB #086EA1
- seablue_text: #00949D #58B2BA #B2D8DD #2476A6
- category10: #1f77b4 #ff7f0e #2ca02c #d62728 #9467bd #8c564b #e377c2 #7f7f7f #bcbd22 #17becf
- category20: #1f77b4 #aec7e8 #ff7f0e #ffbb78 #2ca02c #98df8a #d62728 #ff9896 #9467bd #c5b0d5 #8c564b #c49c94 #e377c2 #f7b6d2 #7f7f7f #c7c7c7 #bcbd22 #dbdb8d #17becf #9edae5
- category20b: #393b79 #5254a3 #6b6ecf #9c9ede #637939 #8ca252 #b5cf6b #cedb9c #8c6d31 #bd9e39 #e7ba52 #e7cb94 #843c39 #ad494a #d6616b #e7969c #7b4173 #a55194 #ce6dbd #de9ed6
- category20c: #3182bd #6baed6 #9ecae1 #c6dbef #e6550d #fd8d3c #fdae6b #fdd0a2 #31a354 #74c476 #a1d99b #c7e9c0 #756bb1 #9e9ac8 #bcbddc #dadaeb #636363 #969696 #bdbdbd #d9d9d9