Contest Winner 20100808

Post date: Aug 9, 2010 5:03:08 PM

2010-August-8:

When I first learned of the latest Ambigram.com Ambigram Challenge asking for entries of couples names as rotational symbiotic pairs (when one name becomes the other when rotated 180 degrees), I looked through my existing drawings of paired names. I thought I might find one that was contest-worthy, and simply submit one that I had already drawn. I wasn't totally satisfied with several of them, and I wouldn't have considered some of the people whose names I have paired to be close enough friends that I would give them the grand prize of an engraved ring if I were to win the contest. (And why would I keep the prize for myself if it bears someone else's name/s?) So I set out listing off people I felt close enough to that I could honor them with such a prize... and counting the letters in their names, of course.

I thought of my cousin Wilfred and his wife Cynthia. I hadn't done their names yet, and each name has seven letters in it, so I sketched it out rather quickly in mostly thick, straight lines, sort of “Ye Olde English” black-letter style. It seemed like a good pair to work with, so I started defining the shapes with more detail. After I had re-drawn the straight-lined version into the computer (v.1), I took a photo of my screen and sent a pix message to Wil, informing him that I wanted to enter the artwork into the contest, and what the prize would be. He loved the drawing, but I wasn't totally satisfied with it, so I told him that was going to make it rounder in a few places and I'd show it to him again after.

Over the next few days, as I was working on massaging the kinks out of the design, I learned that Wil and Cindy still didn't have wedding rings after several years of marriage. Of course, this just gave me even more incentive to sculpt it to the point of possibly being a prize-winning design. After I smoothed it out to my liking (v.2), I tugged at the design a little to give it a slight slant (v.3), and sent Wil another photo. He still liked v.1 better, though I still thought that v.2 and v.3 were easier to read.

Apparently, the judges also liked v.2, because that is the design that won the grand prize: A titanium ring engraved with my design!

Since Wil and Cindy didn't yet have wedding rings, we arranged to order (and pay for) a second ring so they could have a matching pair. Thanks to Ed Ferguson at Cascadia Design Studio for help with placing the order for the second ring. The two rings arrived just a few days before the official announcement at Ambigram.com. The rest of the top five entries can be found at http://www.ambigram.com/ambigram-couples-ring-challenge.

Now I have a new option to offer my customers. I can design the ambigram and provide the required file format for the order, and Cascadia can create the finished product. Minimum ring width for an ambigram is 6.5mm, maximum is 9.0mm. Most women choose 7.0 - 7.5mm. Most men choose 8.0mm. Rings are available in quarter-sizes. They can be enlarged up to half a size, but they cannot be made smaller. If in doubt, order a quarter-size smaller. These are one-of-a-kind rings, manufactured to customer specifications, so before placing your order, be sure to get yourself (or your recipient) properly fitted. You can find more information about sizing, color choices, and return policies at Cascadia's website (see link in previous paragraph).

Have a Great Day!

Rebecca May