The Art of Ambigrams

I recently went on a surf around the Internet looking for good books/magazines to read on the subject of typography (I blame Simon Garfield, his book “Just My Type” has got me hooked on it). On my digital travels I came across ambigrams.

Taken from Wikipedia: an ambigram is a typographical design or art form that may be read as one or more words not only in its form as presented, but also from another viewpoint, direction, or orientation. There are many types of ambigram, but the ones I particularly like are the rotational and the mirror image ones.

Here are some examples of ambigrams that I have designed.

In case this one isn’t clear, it says ‘upsidedown’.

This one isn’t quite so clear to read but I wanted to include it as it’s of my dear Dad’s name, Roger. He’s helped me out a great deal in setting up Engaging Graphics so here’s my little way of publicly thanking him. Unfortunately my Mum’s name isn’t quite so easy to put into an ambigram so I shall have to thank her in another way.

The above examples are all rotational ambigrams. Rotate them 180% and they spell out the exact same word. The other type of ambigram that I mentioned earlier is the mirror image type. Below is a very appropriate example that I have designed.

www.vector.tutsplus.com/articles/inspiration/a-clever-collection-of-40-inspiring-ambigrams/

www.designbeep.com/2010/10/04/40-impressive-ambigram-logos-for-inspiration/

www.logodesignlove.com/ambigram-logos