Creative and Critical Skills

Overview

Creative and Critical Skills introduces students to the essential practical and intellectual tools required for advanced creative media practice. The module provides both technical foundations (through hands-on skills labs in audio, video, and digital production) and grounding in linking conceptual and creative thinking with research and critical reflection.

In contrast and as a compliment to other media and broadcast core modules, students will be introduced to and experiment with various forms and formats of factual storytelling and production such as documentary, factual television, experimental documentary, sonic storytelling (podcast and radio factual) and different narrative story structures. They will explore different approaches to storytelling and learn how creative and critical thinking link to development and production, combining technical skills with creative exploration to produce short, original media exercises. Alongside production work, the module encourages students to think critically about how stories are conceived, created, shaped, who they speak to, and how form and technique can transform meaning.

This module lays the groundwork for postgraduate media practice by integrating creative experimentation, collaborative learning, and research-led inquiry, preparing students to confidently approach more complex production projects later in the programme.

Learning Objectives

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate a range of core technical skills in audio, video, or digital media production.
- Apply creative and critical approaches to storytelling and media design.
- Analyse how aesthetic, ethical, and technical choices shape meaning in media practice.
- Work effectively and collaboratively in a creative production environment.
- Reflect critically on their own creative process and identify areas for future development.

Skills

Subject-Specific Skills
- Proficiency in camera, sound, and editing techniques.
- Story development and creative experimentation across media platforms.
- Application of critical and theoretical ideas to creative production.
- Awareness of professional standards and workflows in media production.

Transferable Skills
- Collaborative teamwork and communication in creative settings.
- Time management, planning, and project execution.
- Analytical thinking and self-reflection.
- Adaptability and problem-solving in practical and conceptual tasks.

Assessment