Say hi, everyone, to the “Durian Star” (榴莲小星), mascot of the Singapore pavilion at Expo 2010 Shanghai. It promises to offer an “electrifying Expo experience” indeed. Tell me please — anyone — is it possible at all to design something uglier than this complete and utter monstrosity? It’s a frightful, grotesque and nightmare-inducing eyesore — some of the autistic children I’ve worked with could design something better with their eyes closed. As another Singaporean friend in Shanghai commented to me, someone at the MFA (nah, STB perhaps?) needs to get fired. I agree. In another 155 days when Expo 2010 finally opens, I know the Singapore pavilion is one that I will avoid like the plague. [UPDATE: Okay, the artist's rendition does look a lot less awful than its realisation but, still, thanks guys for letting me know what I'll be dressing up as for next year's Halloween.]