Gender equality can be looked at from different perspectives, like a Give To Gain ambigram
Art invites people to reflect, feel, and engage, turning complex issues into human stories that resonate and inspire action.
Each year the IWD Lettering Challenge, in association with the global Typism community, calls for creative designs that support an annual IWD focus. The collaboration actively elevates and showcase the impressive talent of creators.
The challenge aims to raise awareness about gender equality, while celebrating and providing visibility for creative talent.
Here, we shine a spotlight on one creative, Jennifer Lynch, and showcase her fabulous IWD 2026 Give to Gain design.
Revealing new meanings through art
Jennifer is very talented when it comes to creating Ambigrams, a typography design or word that retains meaning or reveals new meaning when viewed from different orientations, such as upside down or mirrored.
Jennifer has been drawing ambigrams since 2007, and created this engaging Give To Gain ambigram to support International Women’s Day.
An ambigram is a form of typographic design in which a word, phrase, or symbol can be read in more than one way depending on how it is viewed. Most commonly, ambigrams are designed to remain legible when rotated 180 degrees, but they can also work through reflection, rotation at different angles, or reversals. The artistry lies in balancing aesthetics with readability, requiring careful manipulation of letter forms so that each character transforms seamlessly into another without losing meaning.
The concept of ambigrams dates back centuries, with early examples appearing in ancient inscriptions and calligraphy, where symmetry and visual play were valued. However, the modern term “ambigram” was popularized in the late 20th century, moving from ambigrams as curiosities to a recognized design form within both artistic and intellectual circles. More recently, ambigrams have experienced a resurgence in popularity, especially with the rise of digital design tools and social media platforms that allow artists to share intricate creations widely. They are often used in logos, tattoos, branding, and puzzles, appealing to audiences who enjoy visual illusions and clever design. The fascination also grew after their prominent use in popular culture, where they were featured as symbolic and mysterious design elements, further capturing public imagination.
One particularly intriguing aspect of ambigrams is how they challenge our perception of language itself. By transforming static text into something dynamic and reversible, ambigrams blur the line between reading and seeing. They remind us that meaning is not always fixed but can shift with perspective, an idea that resonates far beyond typography and into how we interpret the world around us.
Connecting the ambigram creative community
Jennifer's artwork has been published, recognized on international art websites, and even tattooed.
Jennifer is one of the creators of the Ambigrams Aficionados Discord Server and is a very active moderator of the group which provides the global ambigram community with a place to learn from each other, get feedback on work, and participate in many fun games and contests.
Share your creative talent with the world
Get involved with the annual IWD Lettering Challenge by creating your own piece and share your creative spirit with the world.
Post your creation on your social media feeds thorughoiut the year using the hashtags #IWD2026 #GiveToGain #IWDtypism for a chance to be potentially featured.
Together, let's Give to Gain and help forge gender equality through abundant giving.