What are Ambigrams?
An Interview with Lettering Artist Nikita Prokhorov
We all get the feeling things are upside-down. This feeling is just as real for letters as it is for people. This week with lettering artist Nikita Prokhorov, we learn what ambigrams are, what are the challenges in making them and how in a few quick steps you can make an ambigram for yourself.
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Thomas Jockin: Hey Nikita, it’s great to have you join me. You’re a long time attendee of TypeThursdayNYC. In fact, you were featured by us in the series Better Letters Together. But for those who don’t know you, could you share your background?
Nikita Prokhorov: Hi Thomas, thanks for chatting with me! My background began as a traditional graphic designer, with a BA in Graphic/Communication Design (in CT) and, right after that, an MFA in Graphic Design (in Savannah, GA). After I finished graduate school, I had several job offers to work as a designer, but ultimately ended up teaching for 4 years at my alma mater. At that point, I decided to switch to freelancing 100% and moved to NYC in June 2011. I freelanced for quite a few companies, with contracts ranging from 2 days to 2+ years. In September of 2017, I accepted a full time teaching position at Shillington School of Design, and here we are.
After I became completely enamored with ambigrams and tried to draw several of them, I realized that my hand-lettering skills were non-existent. I decided to delve into [hand-lettering].
TJ: Here we are indeed! The primary aspect I know about your background is ambigrams and puns. I believe you published a book about ambigrams. For those who may not know, what are ambigrams?
NP: Well, my background isn’t just ambigrams and puns. It’s ambigrams and bad puns! But, jokes aside, my work as of late has been very lettering driven, be that logos, hand-drawn and digital lettering, as well as ambigrams. I actually approached the entire process a bit of a backwards way! Up until the point when I discovered ambigrams in 2008 (by reading ‘Angels and Demons’ by Dan Brown), I had no desire (or skill) to draw custom type. After I became completely enamored with ambigrams and tried to draw several of them, I realized that my hand-lettering skills were non-existent, so I decided to delve into that as well.
What are Ambigrams
Ambigrams are words, that, when their perspective is changed, read as either the same or a different word. The change of perspective could be rotational, mirrored, reflective, oscillating, etc. And yes, I published a book in 2013 called Ambigrams Revealed. It contains ambigram case studies, writing from a panel of amazing judges, and examples of ambigrams from all around the world!
My [ambigram] work has definitely improved and went in a much better direction since I focused on lettering.
The Challenges in Making Ambigrams
TJ: Of course there’s so much to you, Nikita! That’s really interesting your journey into lettering, of which I know you professionally, came from studying ambigrams. What were the major challenges you had to figure out when making ambigrams?
NP: Major challenges…where do I begin? My first major challenge was actually figuring out how to make an ambigram! When I first saw an ambigram within the first twenty or so pages in Angels and Demons, I put the book down and spent several hours researching ambigrams, what they are, and how to make them–I didn’t even finish reading the books until weeks later! It took me over two weeks to make my first ambigram (I have an interesting short side story on that, so remind me if I have a minute to tell that story). My first ambigram wasn’t bad at all, but my recent work is night and day compared to the ambigrams I did almost a decade ago.
My second major challenge was actually figuring out how to correctly manipulate and transform letters! I’ve never done any custom lettering before, and even throughout 7+ years of undergrad and graduate school, I stuck to using traditional typography. Those two challenges were quite a lot to overcome, and my work has definitely improved and went in a much better direction since I focused on lettering. But, I am not finished learning, nor am I finished improving my work. Every day I’m letterin’!
TJ: Tell me more about that interesting side story. What happened with that first ambigram that took you two weeks to complete?
NP: Ok, story time! About two years after I created my first ambigram (which was my first name of course, because I am that vain), I received a random email from some woman in Russia. She said she saw my ambigram online, and asked for permission to use it as a tattoo because her son’s name was also Nikita. My jaw almost hit the floor–not because her son’s name was also Nikita, but because she asked for permission to use it, when she could’ve easily used it without asking. Of course, I gave her my permission, and asked her if she could send me a photograph of it when it was done. Sure enough, several weeks later she send me a photo! If you search for ‘nikita ambigram’ via Google Images, the photograph of that tattoo is the third search result that comes up.
TJ: That’s amazing. The power of the internet. Would it be possible to share a snippet of a ambigram case study? I can imagine it is intimidating where to start on a ambigram if you haven’t made one before.
While ambigrams can be very complex, the approach to their analysis and design is still rooted in traditional typography
A Case Study on How to Make an Ambigram
NP: While ambigrams can be very complex, the approach to their analysis and design is still rooted in traditional typography–at their core, ambigrams are just typefaces that have been either heavily manipulated or drawn from scratch. The trick to break down the overall process to simple steps, and that’s exactly what students will learn in the workshop!
If we start off with a word like ‘GOOD’, the first step is too look for basic common shapes or lines that make up the individual letter structure.
The O are made of up of a circle, while both the D and the G both have a ¾ circle and a strong vertical stem, the only difference being the crossbar of the G.
Once you break it down to simple shapes, you analyze the difference between the letters and start bring them closer to each other in appearance when they are rotated.
In the case of the word ‘GOOD’, I made the overall shape simpler while still maintaining the ¾ circular shape and vertical stem, adding the crossbar and breaks in the vertical stem so it looks like the G.
Hopefully that makes some sense?
TJ: It does! Nikita, thanks so much for sharing what you know about ambigrams. Where can people learn about you?
Find out More about Nikita
NP: It has been my pleasure, Tom! If people want to learn more about me and the work that I do, go to my website, or they can visit my Instagram profile and reach out to me directly.
I’m very happy to chat about lettering, typography, ambigrams, and design. In the past, many designers that I randomly emailed for help or suggestions have been extremely helpful, and I like to pay it forward. So, if anyone has any questions, feel free to reach out and say hello!
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