Darius, our resident designer, sits down and tells NDPeeps@Blogspot more about what inspired him to design the merlion icon so well-loved by our online community.


So, Darius, what made you volunteer your time and energy for this year's NDP?

Initially, my friends and I were tasked to work on a facebook application with NUS students. I created a poster with a merlion mascot and my superior happened to like it and decided to use it for the facebook page instead. It went through a number of transformations and eventually evolved to what you see on NDPeeps now. Work aside, I see it as a personal challenge to hopefully add a different flavour to this year's NDP.

What inspired you to choose the merlion as icon, over all the others Singapore icon?

'Cause the esplanade's too hard to draw! (joking :D)
Well actually, I see the merlion as a unique icon of Singapore and how Singapore came to be named, so I supposed it's only fitting that we should pay tribute to it.

How do you feel now that your merlion icon's so well-received?

I'm not too sure about it! It was definitely unexpected and I only came to know about it when my friends are talking about it recently. I just hope that you will appreciate our efforts in putting together the various platforms and initiatives. Your support is definitely what drives us on and we hope you like what we are doing just like how we enjoy doing it. :D

Any last comments?
I hope by utilising the pervasiveness of the internet and riding on the waves of new media platforms such as Facebook, Youtube, Flickr, Blogspot and Twitter, we can reach out to a new generation of netizens and offer you new perspectives on this year's NDP. Do check back often for updates and share with us your thoughts and reflections on this year's National Day Parade and rehearsals! :D


As friends of Darius, we're always amazed to see the works that he produced in pen and pencil. Here are some samples of his works:


Here's a photo we took with him.