RCA designers engage with the complex cultural and social landscape of today's society, are curious about human behaviour and desire and mindful of the ethical and environmental concerns associated with their work. These traits ensure that many influential figures in the design field, past and present, are RCA graduates.  

One commonality is the students' questioning pursuit of new solutions, whether in telling a story or constructing a car. They are encouraged to look to the past as well as the future, from digital interface to traditional letterpress, when seeking these answers. As workshop leaders they are charged with communicating the wider implications of the design process, the narrative of ideas, frustrations and surprises that turn a thought into a concrete reality.

Jonathan Pugh, an Architecture student, has developed a series of workshops that invite pupils to explore their relationship to their locality, to reveal hopes and fears, and to make positive social and environmental interventions. He has led sessions in the education space of the RCA Summer show, and longer projects in school.