Come with me on a fascinating exploration of the world of ambigrams. It seems that we both know too little…
Wait, do you mean me?
Yes, you, my dear viewer. Are you not an ambigram designer?
Of course I am! That’s why I’m here. Please tell me, what’s this all about?
Let me explain my friend. I need to start with…
Artists have been creating ambigrams for more than two decades now. And they’ve created miracles. First, there was the rotational ambigram. Then came the mirror. Then others, and others, and others… and I wonder, how many types of ambigrams could there be? Is there a limit? Can we somehow invent new types? And what is an ambigram at its very core?
In order to find out how far the ambigram map extends, we need to take a journey. In order to have a good trip though, we need be prepared.
So, how are we actually going to do this?
We need to create some rules and follow a method.
But the first thing we need to discover is… what is an ambigram?
If I ask you this question, you may say something like “a typographical design that remains readable when it’s subjected to a geometric manipulation, such as rotation or reflection”. Even if this is right, it’s incomplete!
Why’s that? It seems to cover everything.
Well, my friend, if this definition is right, then what is a perceptual shift ambigram? Or a figure-ground piece? Do these types include a geometric transformation?
Well…
You see? There’s still so much more to explore.
The core function of an ambigram is this:
• I read something
• Something happens
• I can read it again
The “something happens” part, must be some sort of transformation of some form. Something must change, in order for the viewer to read the piece again. This transformation can be a geometric – BUT – It also can be a transformation within the mind. How the viewer changes how they interpret the piece. Isn’t this awesome? This is what pushed me in starting this exploration.
So, is there a definition for ambigrams?
I would say that “an ambigram is a typographical design that remains readable after a transformation happens”.
That’s great! Now let’s go and set some rules, because without rules, there is no freedom.
Rule number 1: Stick to letters.
Ambigram comes from ambi and gram (greek αμφι and γραμ, from γραφή), which means “write in both ways” or “letter in both ways”. Side note: You already use αμφι in your life. A theater has a U shape. An amphitheater has a full circle shape. It’s αμφι-theater. Theater in both ways. 😉
As said, stick to letters. No images allowed. No pictograms or letters that rotate and create a face. No, no, no. Just letters, any letters, any language, but just letters.
Rule number 2: No legograms.
A rotational ambigram made of legos is not a legogram. If you use pancakes, you’re not creating a pancakegram. This is just a rotational ambigram.
Rule number 3: Keep it simple.
Einstein once said “everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler”. I’m not smarter than Einstein.
Rule number 4: When in doubt, read the rules again.
Or break them. You’re an artist after all!
Let’s lay out the types of ambigrams we are already familiar with and find some common parameters that they share. Hopefully the groups we will come up with will help give us some ideas on the types yet to be discovered!
When scientists were creating the periodic table of elements, they did not only organize the known elements, grouping them in a way that made sense, but they also knew there were going to be some elements (i.e. gallium) that were yet to be discovered. And not only that, they could tell in advance what the characteristics of that element would be! I mean, I’m mindblown! Without knowing something, how can you possibly know what this is like?
We are going to do the exact same thing, because we, artists, are awesome!
And you my friend, if you have read this far, you are awesome!
I’ve been reading, yes. Am I awesome?
Yes you are! Let’s start the trip!
Ok, let’s lay down what we have. Some basic types of ambigrams are: rotational ambigrams, mirror, lakes, symbiotograms, chains, multilingual, figure-ground, perceptual shift.
Are these all types? Are you sure?
Yes, pretty sure.
Well, not really. I mean, a symbiotogram is a feature.
I beg your pardon?
Remember the ambigram core? I can read something, something happens, I can read it again. When a rotational ambigram reads the same word when inverted, you have a homogram. When you read a different word, you have a symbiotogram. Although this term is something useful, a symbiotogram is not a type per se. A mirror ambigram can also be a symbiotogram, for example. We are going to focus on the step 2 “something happens”. THESE are the types. The hard part is to find, what can possibly happen?
Ok, I get it.
So, we are going to put aside the words: symbiotogram (reads differently in step 3), chain ambigram (linked word to itself multiple times), multilingual (different languages in step1 and step3) etc. So we’re left with:
As said before, some of the actual types (rotational, mirror, lake) fall into the category of geometric transformation. Others (figure-ground and perceptual shift) fall into the category of mind transformation. I like colours, so I’m going to colour the geometric ambigrams blue and the mind ambigrams green.
Oh… that’s nice! I like colours too!
Colours are nice, they will help up in the future.
Cool! Wait, is this why there were blue and green pearls around the compass in the beginning?
Yes, they are a reference to these two categories of ambigrams. Nice catch!
Blue and green are great colours. Are they… are they going to be just these two? Just blue and green?
Now think about it, it’s simple why there are two general categories of ambigrams: geometric and mind. There is the art, and there is the viewer. If “something happens” to the art, then we have a geometric transformation resulting in a geometric ambigram. If “something happens” to the spectator’s mind, we have a mind transformation resulting in a mind ambigram.
There are a lot of questions that come to my mind right now. How many geometric transformations are there? How many mind transformations are there? These are two completely different studies, but still they are too close, since the result is a form of art we all love, ambigrams. More than that, is there any other horizon that we have not yet discovered or invented? If so, what can possible be out there and no one has ever been?
You mean… more colours around the compass?
Yes my friend, I mean just that. With all that said, are you ready for the journey?
Oooohhhh yeah!
Superb! So let’s jump into…
Director: CUT! This intro should not end like this.
V: Why? I’ve already told what I have to say, so…
D: No, no. You have to build more suspense, keep the reader engaged Vassilis! Like, really engaged!
V: So… what do you propose?
D: I don’t know, maybe a promise?
V: Like what promise?
D: Like… hm… like you already have written a hundred of chapters, if this was a novel. Like, you know, the reader would already know that there is more to come and so he could not wait for the next chapter to be released.
V: First, I cannot tell them that I’ve written a HUNDRED of chapters… I’ve written some, but not THIS much! At the end, this is a journey of mine that I write and share with the ambigram community. As I’m experiencing it, I’m publishing it.
D: Tadaaaah!!
V: What?
D: You should not publish it AS you are experiencing it. You should leave them one step behind.
V: What do you mean?
D: You should promise them that each time you publish a chapter, the next one is on the making. This way, they will know that you’ve not reached the end of the story, but still they won’t know what’s coming next until you release it.
V: Well, that’s an interesting idea! So, they’ll always be on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting the next chapter.
D: Exactly! It’s all about keeping them hooked, hungry for more.
V: It’s all about sharing my experiences with the ambigram artists. AND keeping them hooked. I’ll do that! Thanks.
D: Cool, so what’s next?
V: Let’s dive into geometric ambigrams first.