PDX Brand Guidelines

Man playing trumpet in front of stadium setting at PDX Man playing trumpet in front of stadium setting at PDX
Brand experience

No matter where you're coming from or where you're going, when you're at PDX, you're Almost Home.

We show up with a simple goal every day: help you feel a little more at ease, a little more delighted, and a little more like you've wandered into a local neighborhood instead of a place built for merely passing through.

Almost Home is not a tagline; it's a promise. A feeling of belonging, comfort, and care through the highs, lows, and "I-think-I-left-my-waterbottle-at-security" moments of travel.

Brand experience pillars
People We put people first.

Everyone arrives with a different story - excitement, nerves, exhaustion, or a mix of all three. Our role is to make PDX a calm, safe, genuinely welcoming space where travelers feel cared for, not processed.

Place We're a reflection of the region we love.

PDX feels like the Portland region because it is - friendly, creative, proudly local, and filled with surprising moments that make you smile. Our shops, food, art, music, and people all bring the quirky charm and warm community energy of the PNW straight into your travel experience.

Purpose We get a little better every day.

Whether we're creating smooth, welcoming experiences for travelers or expanding economic opportunities for our region, we're committed to positive impact. Big moments, tiny details - they all matter.


The PDX voice is
Reliable

You can count on us.

We are:
Clear
Specific
Helpful
Confident

Welcoming

We're glad you're here and want you to have an outstanding experience.

We are:
Friendly
Warm
Humble
Inclusive

Slightly Irreverent

We're serious about our commitment to you. Not about ourselves.

We are:
Witty
Quirky
Fun
Conversational


Design Attributes
Personal

Design that pulls you in, and makes you feel like anything you need is right at hand.

It's not overly knowing or pointed. That'll make anyone uncomfortable.

Delightful

Design that stops you in your tracks, and makes you smile.

We avoid getting overly jokey or glib. We're trying to make flights here.

Familiar

Design that's familiar and helps you feel like you're a part of something. It should feel like it was made for you.

It's not overly casual or off-putting in its efforts to be friendly.

Color Palette

Our color palette reflects the energy of the region we call home - intuitive, playful, and rooted in the landscapes, textures, and moods that make the PNW feel like the PNW. These colors help us show up with warmth and personality, bringing a sense of familiarity to every touchpoint.

Color Palette Inspiration

These colors are inspired by the world around us - forest trails, river mornings, big gray skies, glowing neon signs, and those surprise pops of brightness that make Portland feel creative and alive.

sky carpet trees dusk llama night river forest love timber colors inspired by photos from around the airport sky carpet trees dusk llama night river forest love timber colors inspired by photos from around the airport
Core Color Palette

Our core colors form the foundation of the PDX brand - simple, flexible, and unmistakably us. They balance clarity with warmth, giving every piece of communication a sense of place and personality.

Carpet

Print
CMYK
78, 6, 48, 0
RGB
0, 174, 156
HEX
#00ae9c
PANTONE
326 C
Web Accessibility
RGB
0, 163, 147
HEX
#00a393

Mist

CMYK
16, 0, 9, 0
RGB
200, 252, 243
HEX
#c8fcf3

River

CMYK
88, 29, 48, 67
RGB
0, 63, 63
HEX
#003f3f

Trees

CMYK
62.5, 0, 99, 4
RGB
94, 181, 35
HEX
#5eb523

Forest

CMYK
88, 29, 48, 67
RGB
0, 63, 63
HEX
#003f3f

Sky

CMYK
71, 4, 6, 1
RGB
0, 181, 222
HEX
#00b5de

Night

CMYK
100, 82, 1, 20
RGB
12, 60, 132
HEX
#0c3c84

Dusk

CMYK
71, 4, 6, 1
RGB
0, 181, 222
HEX
#ffe1f8

Love

CMYK
100, 82, 1, 20
RGB
12, 60, 132
HEX
#f45021

Llama

CMYK
0, 2, 4, 0
RGB
210, 180, 140
HEX
#fff8f1

Timber

CMYK
19, 63, 88, 5
RGB
196, 113, 58
HEX
#c4713a
Typography

Our type system is built with clarity and accessibility at its core, but still carries a little of that PDX spark - a friendly tone, a hint of personality, and a style that has a human touch.

Primary font for internal use

Poppins is our primary font for internal use, mainly for documents such as presentations and newsletters.

Primary Weight

Poppins Bold

Other Core Weights

Poppins font weight examples

Full Alphabet

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyx
1234567890&?!/_(.,:')'

Body / Support Fonts

Inter is our preferred body copy typeface for both screens and digital. In situations where Inter is not available, Arial is a viable substitute.

Primary Weight

Inter Regular

Full Alphabet

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
1234567890&?!/_(.,:')'

Primary Display Font

Maligne is our main display font for PDX. For headlines, use the alternative glyphs for "i" and "J" and all punctuation; for smaller text, use the standard glyphs.

Note: Font name is pronounced mah-LEEN, rhymes with "clean".

Primary Weight

Maligne alt glyph example shows dot on top of letter i

Other Core Weights

Maligne font weights medium regular and light

Full Alphabet

Maligne font full alphabet
Photography

Our photography captures authentic, everyday moments - real travelers, real staff, real connections - along with the natural beauty and personality of our region. The smiles, the reunions, the deep breaths, the local flavor - the moments that feel like home.

Photography Approach

At PDX, people are at the heart of everything, and our photography reflects that. Our approach is candid, warm, and rooted in real life. We aim to capture the full spectrum of our community across age, ability, identity, and lived experience. If someone can look at our photos and think, "Hey, that feels like a place for me," then we're doing it right.

various joyful scenes from around PDX various joyful scenes from around PDX
Graphics & Illustrations

Our illustrations bring the region's character, charm and gentle weirdness to life. They help us show (not just tell) what makes PDX feel welcoming, delightful, and distinctly local. We tap into the creativity of our PNW artist community because nobody captures "home" quite like the people who live here.

Illustration Principles

Our illustrations should feel warm, inviting, and a little unexpected - playful enough to bring a smile, but grounded enough to support clear communication. Every illustration should carry that sense of "Oh, that feels like PDX".

a donut balancing on one leg in a zen pose with coffee on one finger and various food on its head
Characters

Our characters exist to spark delight. They keep things simple, expressive, and a touch quirky - whether they're showing where to relax, grab a bite, shop local, or discover a hidden gem in the terminal.

Artist: Jolby

cityscape with trees and playful colors
Color (for illustrations)

Illustrations should use colors from the PDX palette whenever possible - not just for consistency, but because these colors reflect the region's mood and energy.

Artist: Jolby

colorful traffic cone with flowers in bold primary colors
Visual Win

A little cleverness goes a long way. Our illustrations can include small humorous details or delightful surprises - the kind that make someone pause, grin, or show a friend.

Artist: Vee Chenting Qian

dog with forelegs on roller skates balancing a coffee on his hind leg
Style / Line

Our line work should feel hand-drawn and doodle-like - organic, loose, and human. It adds levity, warmth, and an approachable vibe that matches the tone of our copy.

Artist: Chandler Subra

Resources