Oxford University Press Logo
The Oxford University Press logo uses 1 primary color. Its dominant color is Maastricht Blue (#011E41, closest Pantone 282 C). Oxford University Press operates in the Publishing & Printing industry.
- Color family
- blue
- Industry
- Publishing & Printing
- Brand popularity
- Top 1% of indexed brands
- Website
- oup.com
Design analysis
The Oxford University Press logo is a classic combination mark pairing the University of Oxford's historic coat of arms with a serif wordmark. The shield — azure, an open book proper inscribed with the motto DOMINUS ILLUMINATIO MEA between three crowns or — dates to the 15th century and functions as a heraldic badge rather than a modern simplified symbol. The wordmark "OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS" sits to the right in an all-caps Clarendon-style slab serif, tightly tracked for authority. At small sizes (favicon, spine width under 6 mm) the shield's internal detail collapses; the crowns and book lettering become noise, so the mark relies on the dark blue block shape and the wordmark for recognition. This is a deliberate trade-off: the heraldic complexity signals institutional longevity and academic gravitas, but it defies the industry trend toward flat, scalable icons used by digital-first publishers.
Logo colors, measured
Colors extracted from the logo image itself (background removed), with share of the mark each color covers.
Click a chip to copy its hex code.
The measured #011E41 (Maastricht Blue) is effectively a print-black navy. In scholarly publishing, dark blue conveys permanence, editorial rigour, and alignment with university branding without the harshness of pure black on paper. It reproduces cleanly on matte book spines, journal covers, and low-resolution screens, and it pairs neutrally with the gold/yellow crowns in the shield when full-colour printing is available.
Variations & downloads
Color variants generated from the vector source — free to download for identification, editorial and research use.
Visually similar logos
Nearest neighbors in visual embedding space — marks that share shape and structure with the Oxford University Press logo, regardless of color or industry.
Brand web palette
Colors Oxford University Press uses across its website — the broader brand system around the logo.
About Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is a renowned brand known for its excellence in providing educational resources and publishing scholarly works. With a rich history dating back to 1478, their mission is to advance education and research worldwide. As a leader in the publishing industry, Oxford University Press offers a wide range of products and services. Their extensive collection includes textbooks, academic journals, reference materials, and digital resources. Whether you're a student, educator, or researcher, their diverse publications cater to various subjects and disciplines. Their commitment to quality is evident in their rigorous editorial processes, ensuring that every publication meets the highest standards of accuracy and integrity. Oxford University Press is dedicated to fostering intellectual growth and shaping future generations of scholars. Aside from their exceptional publications, Oxford University Press embraces global outreach by offering localized content and resources in different countries and regions. They strive to make education accessible to all, making a positive impact on education worldwide. Choose Oxford University Press for reliable, authoritative, and innovative educational resources that inspire and empower learners around the globe
Questions about the Oxford University Press logo
What does the Latin motto on the shield mean?
DOMINUS ILLUMINATIO MEA translates to "The Lord is my light" (Psalm 27:1). It has been the University of Oxford's motto since at least the 16th century and appears on the Press logo because OUP is a department of the University.
Has the logo been simplified for digital use?
OUP provides a simplified "shield only" version for favicons and app icons where the wordmark and motto are illegible, but the full combination mark remains the primary logo on books, journals, and the website. No major redesign has been publicly announced in recent decades.
What color is the Oxford University Press logo?
The dominant color of the Oxford University Press logo is Maastricht Blue (hex #011E41). The closest Pantone match is 282 C.
How many colors does the Oxford University Press logo have?
The Oxford University Press logo uses 1 primary color: #011E41.
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The Oxford University Press logo is a trademark of its owner, shown here for identification and design research. Color data is measured from the public mark by LogoLabs; analysis is editorial commentary. No affiliation or endorsement is implied.