Figure Ground Ambigrams

Figure-ground ambigrams are words or phrases that can be read in more than one way, depending on how you interpret the foreground and background of the design. The term “figure-ground” refers to the concept in visual perception where our minds separate objects from their backgrounds.

In figure-ground ambigrams, the same word or phrase can be read in different ways, depending on which part of the design is interpreted as the “figure” (the foreground) and which is interpreted as the “ground” (the background). For example, an ambigram that spells “sun” in one orientation and “moon” in another, or “up” in one orientation and “down” in another, is a type of figure-ground ambigram.

Creating figure-ground ambigrams can be a challenging and creative exercise, requiring the designer to carefully balance the positive and negative space in the design and to consider multiple possible interpretations of the word or phrase. Some designers specialize in creating ambigrams, and their work can be found in logos, tattoos, and other graphic designs.

Figure Ground Ambigram
FedEx Logo with Arrow Pointing to the Right

Table of Contents


How do Ambigrams work?

n ambigram is created by designing a word or phrase such that different letters or letterforms are used in different orientations, such that the word or phrase can be read in multiple ways. There are several types of ambigrams, such as rotational ambigrams, which can be read in different orientations, and reflective ambigrams, which can be read when reflected in a mirror.

Ambigrams have been used in various forms of art, typography, graphic design, tattoos, and even on book covers, logos, and other forms of branding. They have also been used in cryptography and secret messages, where the sender and the receiver must know the technique to read the message.

Ambigrams can be created by hand, or by using various computer programs such as Illustrator, and there are also online tools that can help you create your own ambigrams. There are also communities and websites dedicated to ambigrams and their designs, where artists and designers can share their work, and get inspiration from others.

Versions of Figure Ground Ambigrams


The following are a few Figure Ground Ambigrams:



Figure Ground Ambigram
Figure Ground Ambigrams (Formula 1 Logo with embedded “1”

Figure Ground Ambigram

Figure Ground Ambigram

Figure Ground Ambigram


Ambigram
Ambigram


Illusions like Figure Ground Ambigrams

Figure-ground ambigrams are a type of perceptual illusion known as an “ambiguous figure”. Ambiguous figures are visual images or designs that can be interpreted in more than one way, depending on how the viewer perceives them.

In the case of figure-ground ambigrams, the same design can be seen as two different words or phrases depending on which part of the design is interpreted as the foreground and which is interpreted as the background. This creates a perceptual ambiguity that can be resolved in multiple ways, leading to the illusion of the same design having two different meanings.

The phenomenon of ambiguous figures is related to the concept of “multistable perception” in visual perception, where our brains constantly switch between different interpretations of an ambiguous stimulus. In the case of figure-ground ambigrams, the viewer’s perception can switch back and forth between the two possible interpretations of the design, creating the illusion of an image that can be seen in multiple ways.

Overall, figure-ground ambigrams are a fascinating example of the power of visual perception and the ways in which our brains can interpret complex visual stimuli in multiple ways.

Some related illusions include the following:

An ambigram is a typographical design that can be read as one or more words, not just in its normal orientation but also when it is rotated, flipped or viewed from a different angle. The word “ambigram” comes from the Latin “ambi-” (meaning “both”) and “gram” (meaning “letter” or “word”).

An ambigram is not considered an illusion in the traditional sense of the word, but it is a form of visual play that can be seen as a type of perceptual puzzle.

Ambigram
Ambigram of Ambigram

The Rubin vase, also known as the Rubin face or the figure-ground vase, is a famous optical illusion in which the image of a vase can also be perceived as two faces in profile looking at each other.


Rubin Vase Classic Black and White


The duck-rabbit illusion is an optical illusion that is an image that can be perceived as either a duck or a rabbit depending on how the viewer looks at it.

Duck Rabbit Illusion

The Necker cube is an optical illusion that features a simple wireframe drawing of a cube. The cube appears to switch back and forth between two different orientations.

Necker Cube

The My Wife and My Mother-in-Law illusion is an optical illusion with an image of a young woman’s face that can also be perceived as an older woman’s face.

Wife and Mother In Law

The Schröder Staircase is an optical illusion that features a drawing of a staircase. The staircase appears to be either ascending or descending, depending on how the brain interprets the angles of the lines.

Schroeders_stairs
From Wikimedia Commons

The impossible cube is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.

Impossible Cube Illusion


The Penrose triangle, also known as the Penrose tribar, is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.

Penrose Triangle


The impossible trident is a three-pronged impossible shape resembling a trident. It is usually depicted as a three-pronged fork with each prong appearing to be a continuation of the next, creating an impossible shape.

Impossible Trident
From Wikimedia Commons

The spinning dancer illusion is a visual illusion that depicts a silhouette of a dancer spinning clockwise or counterclockwise. The direction of the dancer’s spin can appear to change depending on the viewer’s perception

Spinning Dancer Gif
From Wikimedia Commons

The Monroe-Einstein illusion works by playing with the viewer’s expectations about the relationships between the features of the faces and the viewer’s sense of facial proportions.

Monroe-Einstein

Discovery of Ambigrams

The creation of figure-ground ambigrams is a type of graphic design that has been practiced by many designers over the years, so it’s difficult to attribute the discovery of this type of illusion to any one individual.

However, the term “ambigram” was popularized by the artist Douglas Hofstadter in his 1980 book “Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid”. In the book, Hofstadter discusses the concept of “strange loops” in art and music, and he uses the term “ambigram” to describe designs that can be read in multiple orientations.

Since the publication of Hofstadter’s book, the field of ambigram design has grown, and many designers have created their own innovative ambigram designs. Some of the most famous ambigram designers include Scott Kim, John Langdon, and Nikita Prokhorov.

Overall, while the creation of figure-ground ambigrams has a long history in the world of graphic design, the popularization of the term “ambigram” can be attributed to Hofstadter’s work, which helped to bring the concept of these intriguing designs to a wider audience.

Douglas Hofstadter is an American cognitive scientist, philosopher, and author who is best known for his book “Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid”, which won the Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction in 1980.

Born in New York City in 1945, Hofstadter earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Stanford University in 1965, and his PhD in physics from the University of Oregon in 1975. He is currently the College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Professor of Cognitive Science at Indiana University.

Hofstadter’s work in cognitive science and artificial intelligence focuses on the nature of consciousness, creativity, and the relationship between mind and machine. In addition to “Gödel, Escher, Bach”, his books include “Metamagical Themas”, “Fluid Concepts and Creative Analogies”, and “I Am a Strange Loop”.

Hofstadter is also a prolific essayist and columnist, having written for numerous publications including The Atlantic, Scientific American, and The New York Times. His writing covers a wide range of topics, from mathematics and computer science to art, music, and philosophy.

Overall, Douglas Hofstadter is a highly respected figure in the fields of cognitive science and artificial intelligence, and his work has had a significant impact on our understanding of the nature of consciousness and creativity.

References and Resources

Check out our complete list of illusions.

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