MARKEL ARIAS LASTRA
Audiovisual student, creator, innovator
Reflections as a Creative Maker
Looking back on this journey, I’ve realize that my communication skills inproved a lot and the confidence that i gained with this experience I will remember it forever.
On one hand, I’ve learned that innovation dosen’t mean technology. It means changing the way stories are felt. In the process of the creating of my AI graphics I discovered that technology alone dosen’t solve nothing. And the importance of the personal criteria in all the creative processes.
On the other hand, during the Immersion project I used 3D audio and a 360-degree camera for the first time. Exploring these new forms of communication opened my mind and helped me better understand the sensory and emotional power of storytelling. It showed how different is every communication.
Materiality was one of the most meaningful projects for me, as it combined tradition with a new more sustainable way to represent it. The creative process, especially coming up with the concept, was by far the most challenging part. But I believe we managed to find a topic that was interesting, open to different opinions, and ideal for debate.
Exploring the tension between cultural movements and environmental responsibility, I learned that innovation sometimes means finding a balance between preserving identity and embracing change. It’s not always about replacing old materials with new ones—it’s about understanding what those materials represent and why they matter.
Performativity taught me that we are constantly communicating, even when we’re not speaking. Our bodies are our most powerful communication tools, and the first performance classes were a true game changer for me.
Exercises like responding to a partner’s body language made me realize that communication has far more layers than I had previously thought. It’s not just about words or gestures, it’s about intention, energy, presence, and emotional awareness. This experience helped me understand how deeply performance and journalism can intersect, especially when trying to connect with an audience on a emotional level.
FINAL REFLECTION
Across all these projects, one lesson stands out: journalism is not only about informing—it's about creating meaningful experiences. Innovation doesn’t come from tools alone, but from the ways we use them to make people feel, reflect, and respond. Whether through sound, tradition, movement, or ideology, I’ve learned that stories can take many shapes—and that the role of the journalist is also that of a maker, performer, and connector. This journey has expanded my definition of journalism. It’s no longer just about facts—it's about emotion, ethics, participation, and presence. These are lessons I will carry with me as I continue to grow as a creative and as a communicator.