“VUT student Wandile Majiya shares how his mascot design, one of three finalists, captures student resilience, innovation and the University’s evolving identity.”
22 October 2026 | Story by: Qhawekazi Memani | Picture: Ke o tshwarile, Mokgope
Nako ea ho bala metsotso e 2.
What began as a bulky mechanical character evolved into a futuristic athlete, capturing Mr Wandile Majiya’s vision of a university and its students constantly moving forward. His design is now among the three finalists in the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) mascot competition.
For the Advanced Diploma in Graphic Design student, the project offered an opportunity to contribute to the identity of an institution celebrating 60 years of growth and transformation.
“A logo identifies an institution, while a mascot gives the institution a character people can recognise and interact with,” he explains.
Mr Majiya wanted to create a character that reflected student ambition and resilience while working across sporting events, student activities and digital platforms.
His original concept featured thick limbs, visible mechanical joints, a chest screen and chunky high-top sneakers. Although these elements communicated strength and technology, he felt the character was too heavy.
He refined its proportions, removed exposed wiring and a mechanical tail, and replaced the chest screen with a VUT-branded jersey. The result was a taller, more athletic character that balanced technological features with a stronger connection to student life.
“The development process taught me to remove elements when they no longer serve the main idea,” he says.
A futuristic visor, digital face and headphones reinforce the technology theme, while gold chevron details suggest energy and forward motion. Beneath these visual features lies a human story.
“I wanted the character to represent young dreamers who keep going after setbacks,” Mr Majiya says.
He also wanted the mascot to reflect the diversity of the VUT community, bringing students from different backgrounds and disciplines together through a shared institutional identity.
VUT’s 60th anniversary and Strategy 2033+ helped shape his thinking. He sees a connection between the mascot’s evolution and the University’s own transformation, with both journeys reflecting the need to adapt while retaining a recognisable identity.
“The early concept was more mechanical and industrial. As the design developed, the character became more streamlined, digital and athletic,” he explains.
One of his greatest challenges was deciding what to remove. The experience taught him that effective design depends on purpose and clarity as much as visual appeal.
“I learned to think beyond how a design looks and focus on how people will understand and use it.”
If selected, Mr Majiya hopes the mascot will grow alongside future generations of students, becoming a familiar presence throughout university life.
“Having the mascot become part of VUT’s identity would mean contributing to the University through my discipline,” he says.
VUT wishes Mr Majiya the best of luck as the University community looks forward to the announcement of the winning mascot design.