A unified visual DNA — shared shield geometry, disciplined type system, distinct sub-brand accent colors — so every McKnight product feels connected without collapsing into sameness.
01
The System
1 parent · 9 children · connected DNA
Every sub-brand inherits the shield geometry, Playfair Display headline, IBM Plex Mono metadata, and warm-ivory paper. Each carries a distinct silhouette + accent color so the sector reads instantly.
McKnight Opportunity Group
Parent · Management · Master Identity
The Contracting Preacher
Federal Consulting
McKnight Housing Initiative
Nonprofit · Housing
McKnight Capital Ready
Credit · Funding
MortgageOS
Software
GrowthOS
Software
Freight Systems
Transportation
FleetWorks
Repair
Early Learning Academy
Childcare
LearningOS
Software
02
Sub-brand Lockups
Draft marks · pending name clearance
Draft-only silhouettes. Every lockup below is pending Section 3 (name + trademark clearance) before it can be produced as final production art. All shields use the same corner geometry so they read as siblings, not strangers.
01 · TCP
The Contracting Preacher
Federal Contracting Consultant
Lockup · dark + light
Dr. McKnightThe Contracting PreacherFederal Contracting
Dr. McKnightThe Contracting PreacherFederal Contracting
Domain #C9A961 · Pulpit Gold
02 · MHI
McKnight Housing Initiative
Nonprofit · Housing
Lockup · dark + light
McKnightHousing InitiativeNonprofit
McKnightHousing InitiativeNonprofit
Nonprofit — .org #2F6B4A · Quiet Green
03 · MCR
McKnight Capital Ready
Credit · Funding · Compliance
Lockup · dark + light
McKnightCapital ReadyCredit · Funding
McKnightCapital ReadyCredit · Funding
Regulated · counsel review needed #9B7A2B · Deep Gold
04 · MMOS
McKnight MortgageOS
Software · Mortgage
Lockup · dark + light
McKnightMortgageOSSoftware
McKnightMortgageOSSoftware
Mortgage counsel required #4A5FA5 · Steady Blue
05 · MGOS
McKnight GrowthOS
Software · Growth
Lockup · dark + light
McKnightGrowthOSSoftware
McKnightGrowthOSSoftware
Multi-tenant SaaS #8B1F1F · Signal Red
06 · MFS
McKnight Freight Systems
Transportation
Lockup · dark + light
McKnightFreight SystemsTransportation
McKnightFreight SystemsTransportation
USDOT/MC required #B8823A · Burnt Gold
07 · MFW
McKnight FleetWorks
Repair · Maintenance
Lockup · dark + light
McKnightFleetWorksRepair
McKnightFleetWorksRepair
Garage liability required #5C6B7C · Steel Grey
08 · MELA
Early Learning Academy
Licensed Childcare
Lockup · dark + light
McKnightEarly Learning AcademyChildcare
McKnightEarly Learning AcademyChildcare
Childcare license required #B37A8C · Muted Rose
09 · MLOS
McKnight LearningOS
Software · Childcare
Lockup · dark + light
McKnightLearningOSSoftware
McKnightLearningOSSoftware
COPPA review required #4A6B7C · Teal Navy
00 · MOG
McKnight Opportunity Group
Parent · Master
Lockup · dark + light
McKnightOpportunity GroupParent
McKnightOpportunity GroupParent
Master identity #C9A961 · Pulpit Gold
03
Sub-brand Accent Colors
Shared shell · distinct sectors
Navy + ivory + Playfair remain constant across every brand. Each sub-brand gets one accent color that signals its sector at a glance.
TCP · MOG
MHI
MCR
MMOS
MGOS
MFS
MFW
MELA
MLOS
NAVY · BASE
04
Fleet Rules
Non-negotiable across all brands
The rules that make the family look like a family.
Warning
No sub-brand mark is production-final until name + trademark clearance closes (Section 3 of the Verification Packet). These are draft silhouettes.
Warning
Regulated brands (MHI, MCR, MMOS, MFS, MFW, MELA) require compliance-packet closure before any public mark, tagline, or claim appears anywhere — including social handles.
Shape
Every mark lives inside the master shield silhouette. No square, circle, or wordmark-only exceptions without approval.
Type
Playfair Display · headlines. Inter · body. IBM Plex Mono · metadata & tags. Zero exceptions across all 10 brands.
Neutrals
Navy #0A1628 for authority, Ivory #F7F3EA for paper. Every brand uses these — the accent color is the only variable.
Accent Use
Accent color = fill of the mark, headline emphasis (italic `em`), and CTA background. Never for body copy.
Voice
All brands ship in the same voice family: straight-shooting, specific, values-anchored — with sector-appropriate vocabulary.
Naming
Sub-brand always reads "McKnight [Brand]" in the wordmark — never "[Brand] by McKnight." Parent first. Exception: The Contracting Preacher (Dr. McKnight override).