Ambigrams are the extreme sport of the typography universe. Creating type that can be read from multiple orientations — for example, backwards and forwards, or when placed in front of a mirror — a typographer faces challenges beyond those already inherent in lettering. Each letter performs more than a single role, and must be legible from multiple directions. Plus the part where the overall project is supposed to look good.
“An ambigram is a puzzle where you already know the outcome, you just get to make up your own pieces!”
NYC-based graphic designer Nikita Prokhorov wrote the book on ambigrams. His Ambigrams Revealed offers designers lessons in “creating typographic art using optical illusions, symmetry, and visual perception.” Running a 168-page text stretches the definition of blog post, so we asked Nikita to provide us a quick overview of the process.
“To design an ambigram, you have to do the following: take the traditional rules/principles of graphic design & typography, break them into little pieces, then reassemble them from a different perspective, while still adhering to the aforementioned rules and principles. An ambigram is a puzzle where you already know the outcome, you just get to make up your own pieces!”
Below, a process shot for Nikita’s Travel ambigram, plus 8 more shots from 8 ambigramming Dribbblers.
Top: Jennifer West, Cleber Faria, Nicholas Gilbert. Middle: Dan Gretta, Nikita Prokhorov, Ed Vandyke. Bottom: Emily Van Tassell, Owen Jones, Maxim Baluyev.
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