Iowan Old Style is a digital serif typeface designed by John Downer and released by Bitstream in 1991.

[1] Iowan Old Style is inspired by serif typefaces from Renaissance Italy, now called the “old-style” or Venetian model of typeface design, with influence from Downer’s work as hand-painter of signs.

[2][3][4] Compared to the historical models it is based on, Iowan has a higher x-height, meaning that the lower-case letters are taller and appear larger and wider, producing a design that is suitable for display and on-screen use.

[4] It has diamond-dots (tittles) on the “i” and “j” similar to the Arts and Crafts-influenced Goudy Old Style.

[4] Bitstream later revisited the design, adding ornaments and titling capitals.