This is exactly what I hope to set up around me, for my eventual team, modulo all the emphasis on games/gaming:
pasta and vinegar � Creating a culture of design research1. Create a space that encourages design research: “the office space we inhabit is filled to bursting with games, toys, and other play objectsâ€
2. Build a design research library: †retail game titles, books and graphic novels, DVDs and videotapes, magazines (we have many subscriptions), board and card games, and toys of all kinds.â€
3. Attend and create events: “GameLab has attended films, exhibits, conferences, and other events connected to games, design, and popular culture / we also host our own design research affairâ€
4. Let them teach
5. Encourage side projects: “We encourage our staff to pursue personal projects.â€
6. Create contexts for experimentation: “from time to time we create opportunities for our staff to undertake experimental, noncommercial projects as a form of design research. â€
The original full text is here: Creating a Culture of Design Research - Eric Zimmerman
It's nothing new, and makes total sense: people need to be in envirornments that stimulate.