70: Name ambigrams
About 32 weeks ago, I dazzled you all with my ambigram of the word ‘ambigram’, and now I’m back to show some more.
These were made for my cousins. They are triplets named Joshua, Jacob, and Jordan, and just like the one before, this is the same whether it’s read rightside-up or upside-down. I’ve got plenty more where that came from.
Continuing the J-name streak, I made one for Jeff. I think Js are just fun to draw.
I made this ambigram for Megan. It was pretty easy once I figured out how to make an M look like an N.
Deborah. My mom. Particularly suited because it reminds me of her handwriting.
Jennifer. Most of these are pretty sloppy, but I’m OK with that. They’re more like prototypes than completed designs. I’ll go back and fix any I really like.
A coupled design, given as a gift to my brother and his wife. (Melinda + Andrew)
For a long time, I’ve been struggling with a good, interesting design for my own name. This is really rough, but I wanted to post it anyway, because I think you can comfortably read “Kyle” in it, and it’s a unique style. It’s also somewhat surprising that it’s an ambigram (at least to me).
This one exhibits reflexive symmetry, but not rotational symmetry. It’s also almost entirely illegible, but I really like it anyway. It says “Jami”, and if you know Jami, you will understand why she is best represented by a design that looks like an angry muppet monster.
Update:
I have been challenged. I must defend my honor. (Kai)
——–
Another Update: There’s more where that came from: Even More Ambigrams
Something a week 
You are the ambigram master, Kyle. Angry muppet, I like it.
I challenge you to ambigram Kai >;-)
Challenge accepted. Check the update. 🙂
….okay, that’s just cool. My brain just DOES. NOT. work this way; I kept trying to think how you could do my weird name and it just wasn’t working out in my head.
Very cool! (After you explained what I was looking at.)
How do you even do these? Draw one half first and alter the reflection until it works?
I usually start by writing the word in as many different styles as I can (cursive, print, handwriting, serifs), so I can see different styles of the same letter.
Then I pick some suitable letters and shapes from that bunch and start drawing the ambigram from both ends at the same time. I try to pick a reasonable middle point (some part near the center that will be easy to read either way), and I fill up a sheet of paper with different attempts to make upside-down Gs look like Rs and so on.
Once I have something that technically works, I try to clean up the design, so each letter looks like it belongs with its neighbor.
When I’m done with my drafts, I carefully redraw the first half in Illustrator, and flip it.
Oh yes, how long does it take you for one of these?
It varies greatly depending on the word. From 5 minutes to days.
I challenge you to do Catherine =)
I moved on to something new this week, but if I get enough requests, I may revisit this subject.
Thanks for reading.
Wow, these are amazing. How would longer names be? Like Samantha? xD Good luck with that one.
These suggestions are getting tough, and this post is suddenly popular again. Let’s see if I get any more requests.
Wow this is actually pretty cool. How about you give Gloria a try?
New post up. Challenges accepted: http://wp.me/pRGiK-ml
Those are all so clever! I tried to so my name (Jessica, and then just Jess), but my brain started hurting, so I stopped. 😛
Hi there,
Your ambigrams are amazing! I was wondering if you could tell me how you learnt to do them? My brother and I both have identical initials ans I want to get an ambigram of those initials but its really hard to find nice ones that i would be happy to have on forever.
Thanks!
Thanks. I’m not sure there’s a process I used to learn them. I’ve just always been fascinated with symmetry, palindromes, and optical illusions. One day, I decided to draw something, and it worked.
So, while I don’t think I can teach you, I’d be happy to make something for you… (continued in email)
ambigram erika please 🙂
Hello Hepworth!! I really love your ambigram works. May I ask to do Ambigram for the word “SHE” (without the quotations) Thank you so much!! I like to put name of my x to my arm.. 🙂