Meet Singapore’s Lion Head: The Design Wizard Behind the Icon
Picture this: a desk cluttered with sketches of a lion’s head, a wall painted with the same bold red silhouette. That was the everyday backdrop for senior ad‑whiz Michael Lee while he was on a mission to create Singapore’s next national emblem.
The Quest for the Perfect Swirl
- Lee spent weeks drafting, erasing and re‑drawing until every line hit the sweet spot.
- He finally broke the 1986 competition run by the Ministry of Communications and Information, turning a simple lion silhouette into a symbol that lives on banknotes, flags, stamps and even driving licences.
- During construction, he joked that “while I was working on it, I ate with the lion and slept with the lion.” He was literally lion‑obsessed.
Why a Lion? Why Now?
Singapore’s history is outright lion‑ful. Legend has it that Prince Sang Nila Utama named the island “Singapura” after spotting a lion on its shores. “The legend lives,” Lee says.
He weighed options—palm trees, city skyline—but chose the lion for its punchy visual power and deep connection to the city.
Melting the Ideals Into Mane
Lee encoded Singapore’s core values—democracy, peace, progress, justice, and equality—into five stylized manes that echo the five stars of the national flag.
Competition & Recognition
Out of 260+ entries, including many other lions, his design won the day.
On September 13 Parliament formally acknowledged the lion head as a national symbol, joining the pledge, national flower, public seal, state flag and anthem.
The Laws of Love & Use
- New legislation gives designers more freedom to showcase the lion.
- It also raises penalties for misuse.
Silent Pay‑Offs
Lee never claimed the copyright, so he’s earned nothing from the lion’s omnipresence over the last 36 years. Instead, he harvests pride.
Now a freelance creative director after long stints in Hong Kong and Shanghai, Lee says he feels like a real oddball hero.
“Seeing the lion on everything around us feels like I’ve given Singapore a tangible piece of myself,” he confesses.
TL;DR
- Michael Lee drew a minimalist lion that sits on Singapore’s flag, coins, and more.
- His design won an 1986 national competition.
- It was officially declared a national symbol in 2024.
- Lee never monetised his design but feels proud.
That’s the lion’s tale—a furry legend turned national icon, all thanks to one man’s obsession with jaws.
