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An ambigram, also known as an inversion, is a graphical figure that spells out a word not only in its form as presented, but also when viewed as a mirror-image, or, in other cases, when rotated through 180 degrees. The word typically is not a palindrome, although it may be. Also, the word spelled out from the alternate direction may be an altogether different word, although for mirror-images, the canonical form spells out the same word.
 A mirror-image ambigram for the word "WIKI"Douglas R. Hofstadter describes an ambigram as a "calligraphic design that manages to squeeze two different readings into the selfsame set of curves". The term was first published by Hofstadter, who attributes it to a friend.
They are exercises in graphic design, playing with optical illusions, symmetry and visual perception. Ambigram lovers value especially those with a relation between form and content.
Ambigrams are sometimes used as logos. Some notable ones include logos for:
- Triology [1] (http://www.setgame.com/set/rules_triology.htm)
- New X-Men, a comic book series [2] (http://www.thexaxis.com/newxmen/newxmen130.htm)
- New Man, a French clothing store chain (designed by Raymond Loewy) [3] (http://www.newman.fr)
- Mosuki, a online calendar sharing site [4] (http://mosuki.com/)
- Opodo [5] (http://www.opodo.com)
- Oysho [6] (http://www.oysho.com)
- Xpedx, a division of International Paper [7] (http://www.xpedx.com)
- ABBA [8] (http://www.abba.de)
- Duna, Duna TV (Hungarian television) [9] (http://www.dunatv.hu)
- GOES, NASA's GOES satellite (designed by Scott Kim) [10] (http://rsd.gsfc.nasa.gov/pub/goes/goeslogo.gif)
- ONNO, Ökologisches Unternehmensnetzwerk Ostfriesland [11] (http://www.onno-net.de)
- OXXO, a Mexican company [12] (http://www.tiendasoxxo.com.mx)
- SWMS, German software company [13] (http://www.swmms.de)
- Viva, a German TV [14] (http://www.viva.tv)
- ASE, The Association for Science Education [15] (http://www.ase.org.uk)
- CND, China News Digest [16] (http://www.cnd.org)
- DIP, Database of Interacting Proteins [17] (http://dip.doe-mbi.ucla.edu)
- DMC, De Lorean Motor Company [18] (http://www.delorean.com)
- DOP, Digital Outpost [19] (http://www.dop.com)
- MNW, Music Network [20] (http://www.mnw.se)
- MOW, Möbel Ordermesse Westfalica [21] (http://www.mow.de)
- MSW, Musées et Société en Wallonie [22] (http://www.msw.be)
- Sun, Sun Microsystems (designed by Vaughan Pratt [23] (http://www.sun.com)
- VIA, VIA Rail Canada [24] (http://www.viarail.ca)
- VNA, a Chilean recording studio [25] (http://www.vna.scd.cl)
- VOA, Voice of America [26] (http://www.voanews.com)
- VSA, VSA Comunicación [27] (http://www.vsacomunicacion.com)
- WOM, a German music company [28] (http://www.wom.de)
- DP, Don Park, a Canadian manufacturer [29] (http://www.donpark.com)
- DP, don piso, a well-know Spanish real estate agency [30] (http://www.donpiso.com)
- JP, Justícia i Pau, a Catalan NGO [31] (http://www.justiciaipau.org)
- WM, Waste Management [32] (http://www.wm.com)
- Nuxnu, a German company [33] (http://www.nuxnu.de)
Ambigrams feature prominently in Dan Brown's novel, Angels and Demons. The first UK release of the novel featured an ambigram of the title on the cover.
References
- Kim, Scott (1981). Inversions. Byte Books.
- Hofstadter, Douglas R. (August 1982). Metafont, Metamathematics, and Metaphysics: Comments on Donald Knuth's Article "The Concept of a Meta-Font". Scientific American. (Republished in book Metamagical Themas.)
External links
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![[10]](http://rsd.gsfc.nasa.gov/pub/goes/goeslogo.gif){kind=link}