Vital K
Overview
The Vital K is a unique visual element consisting of two diagonal lines of equal size, based on the arm and leg of the “k” in our logo. These angled lines convey a sense of motion, growth and focused devotion, almost seeming to lean in to listen better, with empathy. Unlike the Living Trellis, the Vital K is primarily used to call attention to information or to add a sense of precision to a design.
The Vital K can be used for emphasis in a variety of use cases and content types, flexing to fit the tone and function of each piece.
Design guidance
From the sharp detail of the Precise Vital K, to the flexible, adaptive Connective Vital K, to the bold, high-impact Heroic Vital K, this unique design element can adapt across a wide range of use cases and content types — flexing to match the tone and purpose of each moment.
The following guidance outlines how to position and use all versions of the Vital K across layouts and use cases, including clear direction on when to create and apply each treatment.
Stroke weight
The Vital K should be used at thin line weights to create an elegant and airy feel, rather than a forced or heavy one. While both lines should be the same stroke weight and color, the angle and positioning of the lines do not have to exactly match those of the arm and leg in the “k,” providing flexibility for different layouts and use cases.
Scalability and stretchability
The Vital K is scalable and flexible, as long as its proportions and ratio remain intact. Both lines must be aligned both horizontally and vertically (never crossing) and must be of equal size.
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When applying the Vital K, we always begin by using a 4x4 grid in a square ratio
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However, the Vital K can be applied to any format just by stretching the sides to any part of the grid. The Vital K can stretch to become flatter or narrower in three easy steps:
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Place the Vital K in the workspace and use your grid to align
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With the Selection Tool in Adobe InDesign or Illustrator, stretch the Vital K artwork to the left or right. Make sure not to go too tall or too flat — you don’t want to lose the overall construction.
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Repeat the previous step for the vertical dimension (up or down), making sure that each point of the Vital K touches a line of your grid.
Follow these visual guardrails as a guide to maintain consistency as you stretch the Vital K.
To the left are a few examples of the Vital K flexing to accommodate various layouts, while still maintaining its identity.
Placement
Generally, the Vital K should appear on the topmost layer of a design, framing typography and/or our logo. It works best when it touches two sides of the layout. Below are a few examples to show how that can be achieved while still providing flexibility.
Design guidance
The distance between the two lines should still be close enough to imply an abstract “k.” Below are a few examples of what an appropriate distance can look like.
Logo placement
As discussed on our Logo & Trademarks page, our preferred placement for the Kyndryl logo is in the bottom left of a layout, with a secondary preference for the upper left (especially for web content). However, unless you have a complete row of space for your logo, when using a layout featuring the Vital K, please place the Kyndryl logo in the upper right corner of the layout. This will help to ensure that the logo doesn’t feel “closed in” by the Vital K.
Photography and colors for legibility
The Vital K should always be placed on solid backgrounds or photography in a way that ensures legibility. Generally, the Vital K pairs best with photos that are more abstract, where we can easily see both lines. Avoid placing the Vital K over photos of people or on backgrounds where the lines may be difficult to discern.
Color combinations
Below are all approved colorways (color pairings) that you can use with the Vital K. Please use only these color pairings to maintain legibility.
Misuse
