The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. William Barton Rogers founded it to advance American industry through science, and it moved from Boston’s Back Bay to Cambridge in 1916.
MIT’s logo is a set of bold vertical bars that spell the initials. The Commons file record says the design dates from 2002 and was introduced in 2003. The institute’s brand guide presents the logo with a palette led by MIT Red and Silver Gray, the colors MIT has used since 1876.
Logo history
- 1876: MIT adopts cardinal red and silver gray, per the MIT brand guide.
- 2003: The bar logo is introduced after a 2002 design, per the Commons file record.
- 2023: The current red version of the logo appears on Commons as the 2023 file.
This timeline lists only changes that a cited source confirms. Earlier or minor variants of the MIT mark that could not be dated from a primary or reputable source are left out rather than guessed.
Logo colors
| Color | HEX | RGB | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIT Red | #750014 | 117, 0, 20 | MIT Brand Guide, Color page (PMS 202 C) |
| Silver Gray | #8B959E | 139, 149, 158 | MIT Brand Guide, Color page |
| Bright Red | #FF1423 | 255, 20, 35 | MIT Brand Guide, Color page (secondary) |
The MIT palette in this draft has 3 recorded values. MIT Red is #750014, which is RGB 117, 0, 20. Silver Gray is #8B959E, which is RGB 139, 149, 158. Bright Red is #FF1423, which is RGB 255, 20, 35. Where a value comes from a redrawn vector rather than the owner’s own guide, check it against official files before using it in design work.
All values come from the official MIT Brand Guide.
Typography
The MIT Brand Guide has a typography page; its typefaces are not listed here.
Design context and usage rules
The brand guide says the logo should appear in black or white on colored backgrounds, apart from approved red on red treatments, and offers a micro version of the logo for small sizes.
FAQ
What is MIT Red in hex?
750014.
How old are MIT’s colors?
They date from 1876.
Where can I get the MIT logo?
From the official MIT Brand Guide.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts_Institute_of_Technology
- https://brand.mit.edu/color
- https://brand.mit.edu/logos-marks/mit-logo
- https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MIT_2023_red_logo.svg
Logos shown are trademarks of their owners and are provided for identification and reference. To request removal, contact [email protected].