There are two definitions of an ambigram, which are the two sides of the same coin.
An ambigram is a typographic piece of art that has at least two ways of being read.
An ambigram is a typographic piece of art that remains readable after a transformation happens.
The core function of an ambigram is this:
• I read something
• Something happens
• I can read it again
The “something happens” part is a transformation and it constitutes the typology of the ambigram. There are two categories of ambigrams: geometric and mind.
• If “something happens” to the art, we have a geometric ambigram.
• If “something happens” to the viewer’s mind, we have a mind ambigram.
Definitions
Geometric ambigrams
Rotational ambigram: A typographic design that rotates to its center.
Sub-types: 180°, 120°,90°etc.
Reflective ambigram: A typographic design that reflects to its center.
Sub-types: mirror (vertical axis), lake (horizontal axis), diamond (diagonal axis).
Slidegram (or translation ambigram): A typographic design that translates (moves) out of the canvas boundary, while the disappearing part of the word appears on the opposite side.
Sub-types: horizontal, vertical, diagonal.
Multigram: A typographic design that uses multiple geometric transformations to the whole word.
Rotatogram: A typographic design that uses rotation to each glyph separately.
Reflectogram: A typographic design that uses reflection to each glyph separately.
Slidogram: A typographic design that uses translation (movement) to each glyph separately.
Jumblegram: A typographic design that uses multiple geometric transformations in each glyph separately.
Mind ambigrams
Middle-form (aka. perceptual shift or oscillation): A typographic design where a letterform can resemble two letters by taking their middle form.
Figure-ground: A typographic design in which both positive and negative space form words.
Containment: A typographic design in which a word is contained in a part of another word.
Arrangement: A typographic design in which the letters of a word are displayed in a way that the whole piece can be read in two or more ways.
Fill-the-gap: A typographic design in which parts of the letters are occluded so that the letters can be interpreted in two or more ways.
Last update, April 25th, 2025.