Ambigram
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 a right angle. 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:
- De Lorean Motor Company (its DMC monogram)
- NASA's GOES satellite (designed by Scott Kim) [1]
- Duna TV (Hungarian television)
- New Man, a French clothing store chain (designed by Raymond Loewy)
- New X-Men, a comic book series
- Sun Microsystems (designed by Vaughan Pratt
- VIA Rail Canada
- Xpedx, a division of International Paper
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