The Durban University of Technology (DUT) approved the ENVISION2030 Living Values Framework. The five values are identified as transparency, honesty, integrity, respect and accountability. The principles espoused are fairness, professionalism, commitment, compassion and excellence. DUT’s Communications team, Nikiwe Sukazi spoke to Qinisani Gazu, Graphic Designer at DUT, Design Studio Unit.
Kindly tell me about your role at DUT?
A: “I am a Graphic Designer at the Design Studio Unit under Corporate Affairs. My role is to offer visual communication design services that are in line with the DUT Brand Guidelines. I am responsible for creating a variety of design assets, including posters, logos, brochures, templates, websites, and social media graphics. I contribute to branding and maintaining a consistent DUT visual identity and collaborate to enhance the DUT brand.”
Q: How long have you been a member of the DUT family?
A: “I have been at DUT for just over a year; joined mid-April 2022.”
Q: Amongst the mentioned ENVISION2030 Living Values and Principles, which one do you mostly associate with and why?
A: “I believe in the principle of excellence, which means I strive to do everything I work on with excellence. As an employee at DUT, I apply this principle to my projects, and it helps me ensure that clients are happy with my work. My dedication to excellence keeps me motivated.”
Q: What are your views on the new DUT tagline: Creative. Distinctive. Impactful.
A: “The tagline is exciting and powerful because it speaks to the calibre of society we ought to create in order to solve local and global challenges with innovation. It serves as a measure with which we can gauge and substantiate new and existing solutions to current world problems. Each word in the tagline signifies an out of the ordinary phenomenon. So, an idea that fulfils even one of the three words is apart from the norm and it can be experimented. That way the DUT tagline welcomes and challenges us to engage in research and innovation whether formal or informal to better our lives and livelihoods.”
Q: How are you planning to keep abreast with the ENVISION2030 Living Values Framework?
A: “I am required to incorporate the ENVISION2030 strip in every design item that I do for the University, that way I get to interact with the values and principles on a daily basis. That has allowed me to learn the values and principles and while doing so, to reflect on my position thereof. I am looking forward to the Living Values (LV) Framework launch that is set to take place this month (July) which I believe will enhance my understanding of the LV Framework.”
Q: What is the one thing that most people do not know about you?
A: “Shhh, I have a golden ticket from Idols SA Season 15.”
“Q: In your opinion, how will the ENVISION2030 Living Values Framework benefit DUT?
A: “When we embody the ENVISION2030 values and principles, service delivery within the institution’s departments and units will enhance and DUT will soar higher.”
Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?
A: “I do music, be it singing or playing musical instruments.”
Q: How do you plan to make a positive impact at DUT?
A: “By performing my duties with excellence and contributing positively to help realise the DUT ENVISION2030.”
Q: What is your daily motivation?
A: “It will all make sense someday.”
Q: What are your future goals at DUT?
A: “I want to network more and to learn about opportunities of growth and career development that DUT can offer.”
Q: If you were granted one wish, what would it be?
A: “Wisdom.”
