Congress Blue
General Information about Congress Blue
The hex color #0E498D, also known as Congress Blue, is a deep, saturated shade of blue that evokes feelings of trust, stability, and professionalism. It belongs to the blue color family and possesses a strong presence. This color is created by mixing a small amount of red and green with a dominant portion of blue. In the RGB color model, it is composed of 5.49% red, 28.63% green, and 55.29% blue. In the CMYK color model, which is used for printing, it consists of 90% cyan, 48% magenta, 0% yellow, and 45% black. Congress Blue is often associated with corporate environments, government institutions, and educational settings, where a sense of authority and reliability is desired. Its depth and richness make it a versatile choice for creating a sophisticated and serious visual impact.
The hex color #0E498D, also known as Congress Blue, presents some accessibility challenges. Its dark hue results in a low contrast ratio against lighter backgrounds like white. This can make text and interactive elements difficult to read for users with visual impairments, including those with low vision or color blindness. To improve accessibility, it is essential to pair this color with very light shades for text or interactive elements. For example, using white text (#FFFFFF) on a #0E498D background provides a better contrast ratio, improving readability. Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) recommend specific contrast ratios for different text sizes and levels of compliance. Developers should use contrast checking tools to ensure their designs meet these guidelines. Furthermore, providing alternative ways to convey information, such as using icons or labels alongside color cues, can significantly enhance usability for all users.
Shades
Digital Color Formats
Alternative colors
Applications
Corporate Website Design
Congress Blue can be used to create a serious and professional atmosphere, perfect for conveying trust and reliability. Its dark shade makes it suitable for backgrounds, headers or other large elements in a website. It should be paired with lighter colors for text and interactive components to guarantee optimal legibility and adherence to accessibility standards. When used in a corporate context, this color promotes feelings of stability, confidence, and professionalism, making it ideal for financial institutions, government websites, and legal firms.
E-Learning Platforms
This deep blue is often associated with intellectual pursuits and can make learning platforms or educational apps feel more trustworthy. It can be used for the background of an e-learning app or website to create a sense of calmness and focus. Consider using it in combination with brighter, accent colors to highlight important information and calls to action, and use sufficiently light colors on top of the blue to ensure legibility, making it a conducive environment for studying and knowledge acquisition.
Fashion Brand Identity
Congress Blue can be used as the primary brand color in a fashion brand's identity that conveys sophisticated and classic appeal. A fashion brand can use it in logo designs, packaging, and website elements to communicate a sense of tradition, quality, and timeless style. As a dark and serious color it is often used for formal wear, but can also give more casual clothing a sophisticated touch. Pair it with lighter accent colors to create a balanced and visually appealing brand identity.