Ambigrams Revealed A Graphic Designer's Guide To Creating Typographic Art Using Optical Illusions, Symmetry, and Visual Perception

by Prokhorov, Nikita

• ISBN13: 9780321855473
• ISBN10: 0321855477
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2013-03-17
• Publisher: New Riders

Summary

An ambigram is a typographical creation that presents two or more separate words within the same physical space. Although ambigrams have been around since the 70s, they've only recently been thrust into the limelight with the publication of Dan Brown's novel Angels and Demons, as well as appearing on various clothing lines and becoming very popular in the body art industry. This small, quirky art and design book will showcase ambigrams culled from a call-for-entry to designers from around the world. The author has lined up an all-star panel of design judges to evaluate the entries and critique the best of the best for inclusion in the book. The book showcases diverse artwork from all parts of the world and serves as an introduction to this artistic movement. In the book's introduction, each judge will include his or her own definition of what makes a successful ambigram. The core of the book will showcase the best work chosen from the entries received. Each entry will include commentary from the judges on what makes the ambigram successful. A selection of the ambigrams will be featured and the process and challenges for its creation will be described in more detail. The book also includes a section explaining how ambigrams are relevant to traditional typography and core design principles as well as a section that features several in-depth, step-by-step tutorials for creating ambigrams from start to finish.

Author Biography

Nikita Prokhorov is a graphic designer and a former college professor of graphic design. He has been freelancing as a designer for the last ten years and has worked as an advertising designer for Scuba Diving Magazine, as well as for several firms in NYC, where he is currently residing. His work has been published in HOW Magazine, Logolounge, and several other collections of logo/identity books. For the last 3 years, he has been developing content for (as well as running and maintaining) Ambigram.com, the largest ambigram community in the world. In his time off from graphic design, he pursues his other creative passions, which are ambigrams and tessellations.

Table of Contents

Introduction
A Word from the Judges
Nikita Prokhorov
John Langdon
Scott Kim
Maggie Macnab
Cheryl Savala
Case Studies
1 / John Langdon — Syzygy
2 / Cleber Faria — History
3 / Daniel Dostal — Wishmaster
4 / Elwin Gill — San Diego
5 / Mark Palmer — Shark Attack
6 / Nicholas Gilbert — Dirty/Clean
7 / Carl “COSM” Mehling — Tempt
8 / Seb Lester — Heaven In Blazing Sunshine
9 / Martijn Slegers — Mystery Gift
10 / NAGFA — King Fisher
11 / Clayton Mabey — John Langdon/Scott Kim
12 / Jen Winklepleck — Unseen
13 / Bastian Pinnenberg — Snapstar
14 / Eugene Uymatiao — Turn of Phrase
15 / Kai Hammond — Alphabet
Ambigram Showcase
Top Ten Ti ps for Creating Ambigrams
Resources
Credits