Jane Austin, creative director at Brighton-based design agency Lime, and senior designer Tony Lee are going back to the classroom.

They will be involved in a Design Council project to inspire the next generation.

Among those taking part in the Designers into Schools Week are style experts Terence Conran, Wayne Hemingway and Sebastian Conran.

The council is organising the event in response to Ofsted recommendations that professional designers are used to enhance the teaching of design and technology courses.

The week, from June 24 to 28, will provide thousands of secondary school pupils with an opportunity to benefit from the knowledge and experience of professionals.

Ms Austin said: "This is an opportunity for us to learn as well as pass on our own experiences of having a career in design.

"We will be able to see how design is taught and then relate that to the world of business.

"We hope we will be able to inspire some youngsters to consider design as a career but remind them it is a business and they have to be able to earn a living from design.

"It is not our intention to stifle creativity, just to point out the practicalities.

"This is part of an on-going exercise as Lime's involvement with the new Community Mark."

As well as supporting their learning in design and technology, the contacts will help them link the subject to life beyond school.

Hilary Cottam, learning and public services director at the Design Council, said: "There's a need to increase the emphasis on the design process in the teaching.

"Hopefully, many of the links established during Designers into Schools Week will develop into longer-term relationships.

For the designers taking part, it will also be an exciting and stimulating opportunity."