Visual Identity Guidelines - The Sphere Project

Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards 

in Humanitarian Response 

Visual Identity Guidelines 

Version 1.0 | July 2012 

If you need to use the Sphere Project logo in languages other than English, 

please visit SphereProject.org/visual-identity. 

This document is also available in French and Spanish.

Logo Colour palette Typefaces Downloads 

Elements Colours Variations Exclusion zone Minimum sizes Use and misuse 



The Sphere Project establishes and 

promotes minimum standards for use 

by the global humanitarian community 

in their response to the plight of people 

affected by disaster or conflict. 

A voluntary initiative encompassing a 

broad range of humanitarian actors, 

its goal is to improve the quality and 

the accountability of humanitarian 

response. 

The new Sphere Project logo expresses 

in a lively manner the character of the 

Sphere community: compassionate, 

professional, global. 

Professionalism as well as commitment 

to quality and accountability are 

qualities reflected in its simple, clean 

look. 

The font used for the logotype and 

tagline – Myriad – is a sans serif, 

humanist typeface derived from 

handwriting; it conveys a clear and 

professional yet empathetic look. 

Humanity and compassion are 

suggested by the hand-drawn style of 

the logomark – the earth globe. 

The green and blue are fresh, 

complementary colours; the gradient 

representing the sea gives the logomark 

a contemporary look. 

The latitude and longitude lines 

suggest energy and urgency, recalling 

the nature of humanitarian response as 

well as a global network. 

The circles encompassing the globe 

illustrate protection as well as the 

universality of the humanitarian 

imperative. 

The Sphere Project | Visual Identity Guidelines 1.0



Logomark 

Logotype 



Tagline 

The Sphere Project logo is composed of three elements: 

• a Logomark (the globe), 

• a Logotype (‘The Sphere Project’) and 

• a Tagline (‘Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards 

in Humanitarian Response’). 

The logo design establishes the visual proportions, alignment 

and spacing of these elements. These specifications should 

not be modified. 

Consistent use of the logo will result in increased brand 

recognition. Therefore, modifying elements of the logo 

design should be avoided. 

The logomark may be used separately (without the logotype 

and tagline) as part of a graphic design only if the full version 

of the logo is also included in the same product. 

See also Variations 






CMYK 

SPOT COLOUR 

SCREEN & WEB 

MONO 

Cyan 100 Cyan 60 Cyan 0 

Magenta 72 Magenta 0 Magenta 0 

Yellow 0 Yellow 90 Yellow 0 

Black 26 Black 0 Black 80 

Pantone 294 Pantone 368 Pantone 7545 

Red 0 Red 112 Red 88 

Green 67 Green 191 Green 88 

Blue 134 Blue 84 Blue 90 

HEX #004386 HEX #70BF54 HEX #58585A 

Pantone 294 - Pantone Black 

The logo may be reproduced in black or Pantone 294. 

No other colours are permitted for reproducing the logo in a 

single colour. 

LIGHT BLUE 

C35 M0 Y10 K0 

DARK BLUE 

C80 M50 Y0 K0 

The logo features a 

gradated fill; because of 

this, it is best to use the 

final artwork files rather 

than try to recreate the 

logo design. 




Landscape version 

Reversed versions 



A landscape version of the logo may be used where the 

standard version would not reproduce well because of space 

constraints or other considerations. 

No tagline version 



When the logo is to be reproduced on a dark background, 

the reversed logo versions created for that purpose should 

be used. Only black and Pantone 294 are accepted as 

background colours. There is no single-colour reversed 

version of the logo; reversed versions are always full colour. 

The logo, both in its standard and landscape versions, may 

be used without the tagline when reproduced in small size. 

Specific artwork files are available for that purpose. 



Where the logo is to be reproduced on a solid background 

colour other than black or Pantone 294, the regular version of 

the logo should be used on a white panel with round corners. 




The exclusion zone is the area that must be kept clear around 

the logo. This ensures that the logo has optimal readability 

and impact. 

The exclusion zone should be of at least the same dimensions 

as the logotype’s capital letters. Headlines, text copy, other 

logos or graphics as well as images must not appear within 

the exclusion zone. 








The logo should always be used in such a way that its 

legibility is preserved. 

For print, the minimum sizes allowed for the logo are 

indicated below. 

Standard version 

Landscape version 





50 mm wide 

60 mm wide 

25 mm wide 

35 mm wide 

Reproductions of the standard logo should never measure 

less than 50 mm wide (or 25 mm if using the version without 

the tagline). 

Reproductions of the landscape logo should never measure 

less than 60 mm wide (or 35 mm if using the version without 

the tagline). 




The Sphere Project logo may be used to identify products 

and activities related to the Sphere Handbook and 

developed by the Sphere community – that is, organizations 

and individuals committed to the Sphere principles and 

standards. 

However, certain conditions apply: 

• the authorship of these products needs to be clearly 

identified and prominently displayed so as not to imply 

endorsement by the Sphere Project office; 

• the logo cannot be used in any way that might suggest 

endorsement by the Sphere Project office (please consult 

the Sphere Project office in case of doubt); 

• the logo cannot be reproduced alone on the cover 

of publications (print or electronic) websites or other 

products (please consult the Sphere Project office in case 

of doubt); 

• the logo cannot be used for commercial purposes nor 

be displayed on items designated for sale without prior 

agreement by the Sphere Project office; 

• the logo cannot be used in business cards, letterheads or 

personal websites. 

How not to use the logo 

The logo should not be reproduced in any way that alters it 

or causes its deterioration. In particular, avoid: 

• stretching, distorting or condensing it; 

• altering the proportions between logotype, tagline and 

logomark; 

• modifying the colour specifications; 

• altering or substituting the Myriad typeface; 

• reproducing the logo from a photocopy, facsimile, 

printed sample or anything other than the approved 

artwork files available alongside these guidelines; 

• reproducing it on a busy background, like a photograph, 

or on a solid background colour other than black or 

Pantone 294 when using its reversed version. 

Examples of how not to use the logo 

 

 

 

 



Primary colours 

The two primary colours 

used on print and electronic 

materials are the blue and 

green* specified here. These 

colours may also be used in 

other visual elements such as 

backgrounds, fills, etcetera. 

Tints of these colours may 

also be used. 

Pantone: 294 

CMYK: C100 / M72 / Y0 / K26 

RGB: R0 / G67 / B134 

HEX: #004386 

Pantone: 361 

CMYK: C68 / M0 / Y87 / K0 

RGB: R84 / G186 / B92 

HEX: #54BA5C 

Secondary colours 

These colours may be used 

in conjunction with the main 

branding colours to provide 

other design options. Tints 

of these colours may also be 

used. 

Pantone: 187 

CMYK: C0 / M100 / Y65 / K18 

RGB: R200 / G15 / B63 

HEX: #C80F3F 

Pantone: CYAN 

CMYK: C100 / M0 / Y0 / K0 

RGB: R0 / G174 / B239 

HEX: #00AEEF 

Pantone: 226 

CMYK: C3 / M100 / Y0 / K0 

RGB: R228 / G2 / B140 

HEX: #E4028C 

Pantone: 259 

CMYK: C65 / M100 / Y0 / K16 

RGB: R104 / G32 / B125 

HEX: #68207D 

* Please note that this green is not the 

same as the one used on the logo. 

Pantone: 144 

CMYK: C0 / M59 / Y100 / K0 

RGB: R245 / G131 / B31 

HEX: #F5841F 

Pantone: 7409 

CMYK: C0 / M36 / Y100 / K0 

RGB: R251 / G173 / B24 

HEX: #FBAD18 

Pantone: 315 

CMYK: C100 / M0 / Y18 / K42 

RGB: R0 / G115 / B139 

HEX: #00738B 

Pantone: 424 

CMYK: C12 / M8 / Y10 / K60 

RGB: R112 / G115 / B115 

HEX: #707373 



Sans serif typefaces 

The Myriad font family is the primary sans serif typeface to be 

used in all visual materials produced by the Sphere Project. 

Myriad is installed as part of the Adobe Creative Suite 3 (and 

above). It is also available as part of Adobe Acrobat Reader 

7.0 (and above). 

Myriad Regular 

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ 

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 

Serif typefaces 

The Adobe Caslon Pro font family is the serif typeface of 

choice. It is used in all products that include large amounts of 

body text as it makes it easier to read than a sans serif font. It 

may also be used to achieve contrast with the sans serif font 

families. Adobe Caslon Pro is installed as part of the Adobe 

Creative Suite 3 (and above). 

Adobe Caslon Pro 



Where there is no access to the Myriad font family, Lucida 

Sans may be used instead. Lucida Sans is the preferred 

typeface for use on the website and email communications. 

Lucida Sans is a standard Windows and Apple font. 

Where there is no access to the Adobe Caslon Pro font family, 

Times New Roman may be used instead. 

Times New Roman is a standard Windows and Apple font. 

Lucida Sans 



Times New Roman 





Please find below links to several downloadable sets of 

artwork files of the Sphere Project logo in its different 

versions. 

The print sets contain CMYK and Pantone files in vector 

format. These are for use in publications, banners and other 

professionally printed products. 

The PC sets include RGB files in JPG format. These are for use 

in documents generated with word processors, presentations 

and the like. 

The digital sets contain HEX files in JPG format and are for use 

online. 

All downloadable sets are compressed files in ZIP format. A 

free-of-charge tool to decompress them is available here. 

Artwork files 

Fonts 

Sphere Project logo 

(with and without tagline) 

Reversed versions 

(for use on solid colour background) 

Print 

(1.5 Mb) 

Print 

(1 Mb) 

Standard 

PC 

(0.9 Mb) 

PC 

(1 Mb) 

Digital 

(0.5 Mb) 

Digital 

(1 Mb) 

Print 

(1.2 Mb) 

Print 

(0.8 Mb) 

Landscape 

PC Digital 

(0.8 Mb) (0.5 Mb) 

PC Digital 

(0.7 Mb) (0.7 Mb) 

We cannot supply fonts 

for download due to 

restrictions imposed 

by license agreements. 

However, Lucida Sans 

and Times New Roman 

are included in most PCs’ 

standard font packages. 

By downloading and using the Sphere Project logo, you agree to its Terms of Use. 


The Sphere Project thanks all members of the Sphere 

community for their compliance with these guidelines. 

The latest version of this document and of the high 

resolution files referred to in it can be found on the Sphere 

Project website: SphereProject.org/visual-identity 



Mail: P.O. Box 372, 1211 Geneva 19, Switzerland . Office: 17, chemin des Crêts, 1209 Geneva, Switzerland 

Tel: + 41 22 730 4498 . Fax: +41 22 730 4905 . Email: info@SphereProject.org . Website: www.SphereProject.org 

The Sphere Project Board: ACT Alliance • Aktion Deutschland Hilft • CARE International • CARITAS Internationalis • DanChurchAid/The Lutheran World Federation 

InterAction • International Council of Voluntary Agencies • International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies • International Medical Corps 

Office Africain pour le Développement et la Coopération • Oxfam International • Plan International • Policy Action Group on Emergency Response 

RedR International • Save the Children Alliance • Sphere India • The Salvation Army • World Vision International

Visual Identity Guidelines - The Sphere Project

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