Printed materials

ITC Berkeley Old Style and Univers are the university's primary typefaces and should be used for all printed materials, such as brochures, posters, and banners, signage, apparel, and billboards.

ITC Berkeley Old Style is a traditional serif typeface owned by Monotype. It is available at no cost for use on university-managed employee computers. 

  • "Download and install" instructions are included in the last section of this accordion

Univers is a sans serif typeface owned by Monotype. It is available at no cost for use on university-managed employee computers.

  • "Download and install" instructions are included in the last section of this accordion 

  • Use only fonts included in the ITC Berkeley Old Style and Univers type families. A combination of approved fonts can be used as graphical elements
  • For reverse (white) type, choose a darker color in the palette and Univers at a point size large enough to keep the letterforms from filling in
  • Berkeley should be used with caution in reverse out situations
  • Body copy standards
    • Berkeley: 10-point, 14-point leading
    • Univers: 9.5-point, 14-point leading

The ITC Berkeley Old Style and Univers font family packages are free when downloaded and installed on university-managed computers.

How to download the identity fonts

  • Open the self-service software platform on your computer
    • Windows: Software Center
    • Mac OS: Self Service
  • Search "ISU Identity Fonts 2025"
  • Use the installation link to download the font packages
  • Contact your IT team if the identity fonts are unavailable for installation

 

Websites and system font alternatives

The digital font replacements are Arial (for Univers) and Merriweather (for Berkeley). These fonts can be viewed on most browsers. Merriweather can be utilized by designers and developers through Google Fonts. Arial is a system font. Additional information about using typography with the Iowa State web theme is available on page 21 of the Web Style and Story Guide.

Merriweather is the alternative serif font for electronic materials when ITC Berkeley Old Style is unavailable. It is free and available for download through Google Fonts.

Arial is the alternative sans-serif font for electronic materials when Univers is unavailable. It is a free preinstalled system font available in software programs on most computers.

Preinstalled system fonts are free and available in software programs on most computers.

  • Georgia is the alternative serif font if Merriweather is unavailable
  • Helvetica Neue is the alternative sans-serif font if Arial is unavailable

Digital materials

If ITC Berkeley Old Style and Univers aren’t available, use Times New Roman or Arial when creating electronic communications such as emails, newsletters, and presentations.

Times New Roman is the alternative serif font for electronic materials when ITC Berkeley Old Style is unavailable.

Arial is the alternative sans-serif font for electronic materials when Univers is unavailable. It is a free preinstalled system font available in software programs on most computers.

When using Adobe Express for any application, use:

  • Merriweather as the alternative serif font for ITC Berkeley Old Style
  • Arial as the alternative sans-serif font for Univers