almost!
I have had a few chances of having my ambigrams in the real world, and these two are a couple of “couldabeens”.
The logo is supposed to represent a record (music) label with “biker-theme” elements as the label is an “offspring” of a biker-themed watering hole here in Manila of the same name.
But as fate would have it, the guys chose a different design. Ugh (probably not into ambigrams). But that is not the troublesome part.
They were pretty much decided on the “look” of the logo, so no biggie. The ambigrams were just add-on bonus designs, if you will. You know, just in case.
The vector file I created the logos with, however, is dead. (I had to re-do the selected/approved logo design.) All I have left of these (as of now) are two med-res .jpgs and a couple of good .epses (whew!).
So how did the file die? I think I may have “over-populated” the file before I got the chance to distribute each design to individual files (there were about 8 designs, not counting the varying subtle changes created along the process). I tried looking for the usual backup file but alas! None. These things rarely happen, but they do happen. So chalk another one up for experience…
Nothing left to do but… recreate. Or let it go…
And speaking of recreate… the updated thewitchinghour.
To those who were able to catch the suggestion/comment in Fellow Ambigrammists of our esteemed John Langdon a while back regarding this design’s previous incarnation (see design), well, here you go. Again a big, big thank you again to Mr. Langdon. (Why didn’t I see that before?)
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+ a stab +
Before I go for another round next week, here is a final “almost”. The Committee on Public Information’s Freedom of Information Bill hearing in the H.O.Representatives has been adjourned for November 27. It seems to be a downhill course, session break is near. The Senate has passed its version much earlier, so who knows really, the HOR may just be holding out for a grand…. nah, that’s just me seeing the glass half full.
I decided to use clear and simple font styles here. Keeping it “simple” gets the message across faster, much like what a bill like this could do as a law for common people seeking transparent governance.
Be safe, ’til next week.
(A new) Witching Hour
Supposedly, this is to be a piece about my very first ambigram challenge, since it was around this time last year that I threw my hat into the fray with “The Witching Hour”. But I got to thinking that it’d be boring just to see the same design (‘though tweaked) again. So aside from that, I present three new ambigram designs (hope this makes up for the delayed posting) and a few insight in the Filipino traditions and culture.
Undas or Araw Ng Mga Patay is the Filipino day of the dead, traditionally observed every second of November. But of recent Undas has come to refer to both All Saints’ Day or Todo Los Santos (observed every November 1) and All Souls’ Day, collectively.
The second ambigram above is a horizontal symbiotogram (if there ever was one). Notice the change of case with the letter “D”.
Maligno is a generic term in reference to anything and everything (evil) that goes bump in the night. From kapre (a tree dwelling, cigar chain-smoking, awful smelling giant), manananggal (a bat winged female whose torso separates from her lower extremities) , barang (a witch), aswang or tiktik ( a creature with features resembling crossbreed of a vampire and a werewolf with an insatiable apetite for human fetus), tikbalang (a giant with a horse’s head) , tiyanak (a zombie-like creature that takes the shape of a newborn child to lure in its prey), duwendeng itim ( black dwarf), to white ladies to the devil. It’s also a derogatory term for an evil person.
Engkanto (Sp: Encanto) or engkantado (male) engkantada (female) is a generic term that is used when referring to diwatas (faeries), duwende (dwarf), anting-anting (amulet) and other magical and mythical creatures and objects rooted in our folklores. This may also include malignos. Both engkantos and malignos are favorite subjects of discussion every Undas. We love scaring ourselves.
The ambigram is an initial design study of the word/phrase. It will be more mystical in its future incarnation.
And finally, for sentimental reasons, here’s a look at (a new) The Witching Hour.