Feature

Know about ambigrams

Towsif Osman

The first time I came across this awe-inspiring design technique was when I was reading Dan Brown's 'Angels & Demons'. It took me by surprise when I first saw them, and everyone else whom I showed the ambigrams later. Ambigrams are words designed such that they can be read as easily from any viewing angle. That means if you turn an ambigram upside down or hold it in front of a mirror, it will read the same thing or two different words, depending on what the artist did with it.

After reading the book I started doing a little research of my own on ambigrams over the net. First of all, I looked up the person who designed the ambigrams in the Dan Brown books. John Langdon, the artist, created a whole new genre of design. His designs are intricate and ingenious at the same time. Ambigrams and other designs by John Langdon were extensively used in the 'Da Vinci Code' movie where, if you are keen enough, you might notice them.

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