{"id":44847,"date":"2026-10-23T06:44:52","date_gmt":"2026-10-23T06:44:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/?p=44847"},"modified":"2026-10-23T06:47:59","modified_gmt":"2026-10-23T06:47:59","slug":"from-queenstown-to-vut-sibusiso-gums-mascot-design-among-three-finalists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/nso\/from-queenstown-to-vut-sibusiso-gums-mascot-design-among-three-finalists\/","title":{"rendered":"From Queenstown to VUT: Sibusiso Gum\u2019s mascot design among three finalists"},"content":{"rendered":"

“VUT student Sibusiso Gum shares the inspiration behind his robotic mascot design, one of three finalists, combining innovation with student streetwear culture.”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

23 October 2026 | Story by: Ntebogeleng Digaso<\/strong> | Picture:\u00a0Keitumetse Mokgope\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Metsotso e 2 nako ya go bala.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n \"Motheo\n
\n VUT Advanced Diploma in Graphic Design student Sibusiso Gum is one of three finalists in the University\u2019s 60th anniversary mascot design competition, recognised for his futuristic robotic concept that blends technology, creativity and student culture.\n\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

A passion for character design and animation has brought Mr Sibusiso Gum an opportunity to help shape his university\u2019s identity. His futuristic robotic mascot is among the three finalists in the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) mascot competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always loved character design and I\u2019ve 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,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Gum envisioned a character that would reflect VUT\u2019s technological identity while connecting with the students it represents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI wanted a mascot that felt like a university of technology; fast, sharp and futuristic, but still warm and approachable to students,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Navy and gold connect the mascot to VUT\u2019s 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 \u201cI wanted a mascot that felt like a university of technology; fast, sharp and futuristic, but still warm and approachable to students,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

VUT\u2019s 60th anniversary added another dimension to the brief. He wanted the mascot to acknowledge the institution\u2019s legacy while looking towards its future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTurning 60 years is a huge milestone,\u201d he says. \u201cI wanted the design to honour that legacy, but I also wanted a design that feels modern and futuristic.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The experience reinforced an important lesson: successful design must meet the needs of its audience and serve the purpose behind the brief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt would mean everything, honestly,\u201d he says. \u201cKnowing 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With his concept among the three finalists, that possibility is now closer, giving his passion for character design a potential place in VUT\u2019s unfolding story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

VUT wishes Mr Gum the best of luck as the University community looks forward to the announcement of the winning mascot design.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“VUT student Sibusiso Gum shares the inspiration behind his robotic mascot design, one of three finalists, combining innovation with student […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":44901,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[47,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-44847","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-news-vaal-university-of-technology","category-uncategorized"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t