Colours and images

Primary colours

The primary colour of the Government Offices is sky blue. It is available in several shades.

When necessary, bright red should be used as an accent colour.

Supporting colours

In addition to the primary colours, a palette of supporting colours may be used in published materials. These colours are inspired by Icelandic nature and are intended to enliven the material and prevent presentations from appearing monotonous.

The supporting colours are suitable for use in published materials such as reports and presentations. However, they must never be used as signature colours for the Government Offices, including on business cards, letterheads, flags, or signage. Only one colour palette should be used at any given time.

No ministry has an exclusive signature colour, nor may any ministry claim a particular colour in published materials.

Visual identity

The imagery should be modern, dependable, dignified, and unpretentious. It should portray Icelandic reality in a beautiful yet authentic manner, while remaining creative and fresh.

All imagery must highlight the diversity of the country and society, depicting different seasons, regions, industries, and a range of age and social groups. In this way, the imagery reflects the various sectors represented by the ministries.

Keywords:

• People and a diverse society
• A vibrant business environment
• Initiative and innovation
• Cultural activities
• Dynamism and foresight

Photographs used in news content, presentations, and on the web should also take these factors into consideration. The principal guideline is that images are captured within an Icelandic setting, except when illustrating international cooperation. The same standard applies to official photographs of the government and ministers.

Patterns

Where large areas of solid colour are used, the Government Offices’ pattern may be used in place of a single colour block. The pattern is available in all colour palettes.

Download a zip folder with the patterns (vector drawings, CMYK colours, PDF files). The files contain the shades shown in the centre above, not the darkest ones as in the example below.

The patterns are based on lines found in Icelandic nature.

Where possible, the pattern should be coated with a clear UV varnish over the printed colour, to create a textured finish.