Generative AI : From Playground to Production Masterclass
Students and staff took part in an engaging and hands-on workshop exploring the latest Generative AI technologies for producing powerful, professional media content. Organised by Savraj Matharu and Alvaro Casia, the session offered participants an opportunity to experiment with cutting-edge tools and understand their real-world applications in media production and content creation.
The master workshop was designed to showcase the growing capabilities of Generative AI, with a focus on creativity, practical skills, and responsible use. The session was structured in two parts—From Playground to Production—guiding attendees from open exploration through to professional-level output.
Speaking about the workshop, Savraj Matharu emphasised the importance of experimentation when developing AI literacy:
“We wanted to give staff and students a safe space to explore Gen AI tools and understand their capabilities. There are a wide variety of tools emerging from different tech organisations, and each excels in specific use-case scenarios—there is no single AI workflow. As industry trends evolve, we’re seeing rapid growth in AI-based skills for employability, with employers increasingly expecting some level of AI literacy. It’s essential that our students understand not only the possibilities and limitations of AI, but also develop their own agency, autonomy, and ethical awareness when using these tools.”
Participants began in Phase 1: The AI Playground, a digital sandbox encouraging experimentation with three different AI tools from multiple providers. They then progressed to Phase 2: Production Mastery, where the focus shifted to developing professional-grade content and refining prompt engineering techniques.
This second phase highlighted that, in professional marketing, every detail is intentional. Learners were shown how to merge creative directives into a single cohesive prompt—ensuring the AI could seamlessly integrate all elements and avoid the “photoshopped” or amateur appearance common in basic outputs.
To put their skills into practice, attendees were given two creative challenges:
Task 1: Create an invitation for a Cat Café opened by the famous Westminster cat, Batman.
Task 2: Produce a fashion-themed marketing image using their own self-image.
These activities encouraged imaginative thinking while demonstrating practical applications of AI tools in marketing, branding, and design.
Reflecting on the workshop, Alvaro noted:
“It was fantastic to see both staff and students embrace the challenge of mastering generative AI in our ‘Playground to Production’ workshop. The energy in the room was electric, proving that our community is not just ready, but excited to lead the conversation on intelligent creativity. We are planning to run more of these soon.”
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