I read "Twisted." It did take me about 10 seconds, though.

I read twisted, the twists in the first one helped

Thanks for the comments. Can you guess what the company does though? Any thoughts on how successful this would be as a logotype?

Birthday cakes?

I think that everything works except the 'd', especially in the connected version.

I'd suggest changing the 'T' to lowercase, and reversing the swing on the crossbar (I've attached a sketch to show what I mean).

- Lex

I read 'Twisted' right away. So I'd say it works as a logotype. The top one is, by far, my favorite.

I have no idea what it could be though. Spans from Lebanese Restaurant to a Pruning Company?

I can't read the top one, but the bottom one read as twisted to me.

I have no idea what the company does, but I don't think that's important.

I read the twisted on the top pretty easy. I like it. But, I've seen many an ambigram so I'm an easier sell than the average consumer, like a lot of people here, don't you think?

The top is much better than the bottom. Bottom looks stagnant and forced. Top is so playful and organic. FUN.

"Spans from Lebanese Restaurant to a Pruning Company?"...to decorating cakes with frosting.

Btw, one potential problem is that the i is almost exactly the same character as the d.

Also just noticed that the s loses that organic nature either by way of it's lack of contrast or it's not curvy enough or both.

'Twisted' immediately. Good point made there about the i and the d though.

Ice-cream?

Ross

Prefer the bottom one (the drops work much better), read Twisted right away - maybe a soft drink?

The d is definitely the weak point; I'm used to making and reading ambigrams, but the end slowed me down and for a few seconds I thought "Twistel" (like it could be a pretzel brand, though that's not what the style looks like). Try a big swash from the left of the T to make a capital D.

I'm guessing it's a soft-serve ice cream/custard place. The dollop on the i successfully says it must be something sweet.

I thought it was for extra safe condoms

Top one is hard to read, but bottom one is completely legible.

I'll echo Lex's guess - birthday cakes.

I have to be honest, when I first read it I immediately thought the "d" was actually an "l" so it read "twistel" to me until you said it was "twisted." The reason being that the "d" looked like an "l" because of the loop or bowl or counter of the d being so low to the baseline. It looks more like and script "l" with a fancy loop. Also just because one sees the first 3 to 4 letters being "Twis..." does not mean that everyone is going to know it actually says "Twisted." And also remember that the last letter of a word is very important for reasons we all know.

However, that said, I think both have something good going and I like the script version as well as the second one and I think they both have this "festive" feel to it. I think there is something you can try with the "s" perhaps tilting it to the angle of the "w & e"? just to see what it looks like while sitting diagonally in the middle of the ambigram. Just a suggestion, not saying it will work but could be interesting.

I like the loops and the connections between loops but I think you should check your weights. Making some of the connections of a heavier stroke or weight could help improve the ambigram. It does not entirely bother me but I think some of those connections could be heavier and stronger since they look and feel a little flimsy and weak.

Also, maybe you could try something different with the "i." Maybe you could make more of a sleek or thinner tear drop or dot of the "i." I feel they work on the second one but for the script version they could be thinner or slicker or something, but I feel they are too narrow or wide.

Its looking good and fun and it looks good in black to.

F

Froy - I hear you about the second half of the word being less strong than the first. However, I would argue that having read 'Twis..' there are only so many directions the word can go, and your brain almost fills in the rest for you. To addition, the more the second half of the word is rendered legible, the less the first half is! And I would argue that the first half is more important.

The rationale behind the line weights is thus: the first version had bits such as the 's' with varying weights within the actual letter. To improve legibility (especially at a distance - go on, try it, it's actually more legible when you stand back!), the joining or decorative lines would become lighter, and the lines making up the letter would be heavier. Those lines which are part of the letter in one instance and then a joining line in the other would be a middle thickness.

What do you think?

Great comments everyone, much appreciated.

One last question:

If you were to see this above a shop, I think we can all agree you wouldnt be able to read it as instantaneously as other logos.

Therefore, would this mean that you:

a. Lose interest and walk away?
b. Stand there until you've worked it out? (and maybe tell someone about it?)
c. Enter the shop to ask about it?

Cheers

(a), I'm afraid.