“VUT student Sibusiso Gum shares the inspiration behind his robotic mascot design, one of three finalists, combining innovation with student streetwear culture.”
23 October 2026 | Story by: Ntebogeleng Digaso | Picture: Keitumetse Mokgope
2 minutes read time.
A passion for character design and animation has brought Mr Sibusiso Gum an opportunity to help shape his university’s identity. His futuristic robotic mascot is among the three finalists in the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) mascot competition.
Originally from Queenstown in the Eastern Cape, the Advanced Diploma in Graphic Design student saw the project as a chance to take his creativity beyond the classroom.
“I’ve always loved character design and I’ve always wanted to learn and create animation, so this project was a perfect chance to actually do what I love and leave something that could represent the university,” he says.
Mr Gum envisioned a character that would reflect VUT’s technological identity while connecting with the students it represents.
“I wanted a mascot that felt like a university of technology; fast, sharp and futuristic, but still warm and approachable to students,” he explains.
The design features a robotic helmet and a glowing, screen-like face capable of displaying different emotions. These elements give the character personality, making it approachable while retaining its futuristic appearance.
Navy and gold connect the mascot to VUT’s visual identity, while a streetwear jacket and sneakers reflect student culture. For Mr Gum, this combination was essential to creating a character that could feel at home in the university com “I wanted a mascot that felt like a university of technology; fast, sharp and futuristic, but still warm and approachable to students,” he explains.
VUT’s 60th anniversary added another dimension to the brief. He wanted the mascot to acknowledge the institution’s legacy while looking towards its future.
“Turning 60 years is a huge milestone,” he says. “I wanted the design to honour that legacy, but I also wanted a design that feels modern and futuristic.”
Bringing that vision to life required patience. Mr Gum revised some designs as many as three times, learning to respond to feedback and reconsider elements he had initially been happy with.
The experience reinforced an important lesson: successful design must meet the needs of its audience and serve the purpose behind the brief.
For Mr Gum, winning would mark a meaningful step in his development as a designer. Seeing his character appear at university events would demonstrate that student creativity can make a lasting contribution.
“It would mean everything, honestly,” he says. “Knowing something I created could represent VUT, appearing at events, and it would be proof that my work can live beyond a classroom and actually mean something to a community.”
With his concept among the three finalists, that possibility is now closer, giving his passion for character design a potential place in VUT’s unfolding story.
VUT wishes Mr Gum the best of luck as the University community looks forward to the announcement of the winning mascot design.