Abstract
Some design firms develop their own internal educational programmes to strengthen employee skills in areas relevant to
the firm’s plans and aspirations. International multidisciplinary design firm Arup has developed a programme of
‘design schools’ for younger staff, intended to strengthen the firm’s design culture. The schools are very broad in concept
and execution, and based loosely on the traditional university ‘studio’ method of design teaching. This paper describes the
programme, reviews available evidence regarding need and value, and considers possibilities for further study to develop
the programme.