Harvard Crimson

HEX: #C90016 | Modern Palette

On White
6.01:1
PASS
On Black
3.50:1
FAIL

Color Specifications

HEX
#C90016
RGB
201, 0, 22
HSL
353°, 100% ,39%
CMYK
0, 100, 89, 21

About Harvard Crimson

Harvard Crimson (#C90016) is a color with RGB(201, 0, 22) and HSL(353.4°, 100%, 39.4%). It is commonly associated with Energetic, Bold moods. In design, it fits Vivid, Warm styles and is suitable for Text, Button, Accent. Its complementary color is #00C9B3, which creates strong contrast. Its triadic palette includes #16C900 and #0016C9. The name comes from Harvard Crimson (English).

  • HEX: #C90016
  • RGB: 201, 0, 22
  • HSL: 353.4°, 100%, 39.4%
  • Mood: Energetic, Bold
  • Style: Vivid, Warm
  • Use case: Text, Button, Accent
  • Complementary color: #00C9B3
  • Triadic colors: #16C900, #0016C9
  • The name comes from Harvard Crimson (English).

Live Components

LIGHT
DARK
System Notification Box

Color Palettes

Harvard Crimson #C90016 is used in Monochromatic, Neutral + Accent, Analogous, 3 + 1 + 1 palettes, giving designers ready-made combinations for backgrounds, surfaces, accents, and interface elements.

Monochromatic Five tones of the same hue — a reliable scale for backgrounds, surfaces, and text.
 
HARVARD CRIMSON
 
 
 
Neutral + Accent Four near-neutral tones grounded by a saturated accent — clean and versatile for UI.
 
 
HARVARD CRIMSON
 
 
Analogous Five hues drifting across a 60° arc — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.
 
 
 
 
 
3 + 1 + 1 Three analogous base colors, one complementary accent, one dark anchor — bold yet balanced.
 
 
 
 
 

Color Harmonies

Harvard Crimson #C90016 pairs with #00C9B3 as its complementary color, and #16C900 and #0016C9 in triadic combinations. These harmony relationships help create balanced color combinations for UI, branding, and design work.

Complementary

The color directly opposite on the color wheel — creates maximum contrast and vibrance.

HARVARD CRIMSON
Analogous

Colors adjacent on the wheel — naturally harmonious and pleasing to the eye.

HARVARD CRIMSON
Triadic

Three colors equally spaced 120° apart — bold, balanced, and visually rich.

HARVARD CRIMSON
Split-Complementary

Two colors flanking the complement — high contrast with less tension than full complementary.

HARVARD CRIMSON
Tetradic (Square)

Four colors at 90° intervals — rich variety, best when one color dominates.

HARVARD CRIMSON
Monochromatic

Shades and tints of the same hue — cohesive, elegant, and easy to work with.

HARVARD CRIMSON

Shades & Tints

The shade and tint range for Harvard Crimson #C90016 moves from dark #1A0003 tones through the base color to lighter #FFE6E8 tones, making it useful for depth, hierarchy, and background variation.

HARVARD CRIMSON

Color Characteristics

Mood
Energetic Bold
Style
Vivid Warm
Use case
Text Button Accent

Accessibility Simulation

Deuteranopia #727200
Protanopia #47471A
Tritanopia #C90303
Achromatopsia #636363

Frequently Asked Questions

Harvard Crimson (#C90016) is a color with RGB(201, 0, 22) and HSL(353.4°, 100%, 39.4%).

#C90016 pairs strongly with #00C9B3 as its complementary color. It can also be used with neutral tones for balanced UI and design layouts.

#C90016 is suitable for Text, Button, Accent and works well with Vivid, Warm styles.

#C90016 is commonly associated with Energetic, Bold.

The name Harvard Crimson is linked to Harvard Crimson from English, meaning The official color of Harvard University, a deep red..

Name, History & Etymology

Origin Word Harvard Crimson
Meaning The official color of Harvard University, a deep red.
Language English
First Recorded Use Late 19th Century

History

The color 'crimson' was officially adopted by Harvard University in 1890. Prior to this, Harvard did not have an official color, and various shades of magenta and crimson were used informally. The adoption was largely influenced by the Harvard athletic teams, who needed a consistent color for their uniforms and banners. The specific shade #c90016 is a modern digital representation of this traditional color.

First Recorded Use

1890

Cultural Associations

Harvard Crimson is deeply embedded in the identity of Harvard University. It is prominently featured in the university's crest, athletic uniforms, publications (including 'The Harvard Crimson' student newspaper), and merchandise. It symbolizes the university's long history, prestige, and academic excellence. The color is widely recognized in academic circles and beyond as representing Harvard.

Similar Named Colors
Venetian Red #C80815 ΔE 0.50
Lava #CF1020 ΔE 2.16
International Orange (engineering) #BA160C ΔE 3.47
Fire Engine Red #CE2029 ΔE 3.61

Code Snippets

/* Background */
.element {
    background-color: #C90016;
}

/* Text */
.element {
    color: #C90016;
}

/* Border */
.element {
    border: 1px solid #C90016;
}

/* Linear gradient to complementary */
.element {
    background: linear-gradient(
        to right,
        #C90016,
        #00C9B3
    );
}

/* Radial gradient */
.element {
    background: radial-gradient(
        circle,
        #C90016,
        #00C9B3
    );
}

// SCSS variable
$harvard-crimson: #C90016;

// With RGB channels (useful for rgba() usage)
$harvard-crimson-r: 201;
$harvard-crimson-g: 0;
$harvard-crimson-b: 22;

// Usage
.element {
    background-color: $harvard-crimson;
    color: rgba($harvard-crimson-r, $harvard-crimson-g, $harvard-crimson-b, 0.8);
}