Book excerpt: Interest in the fascinating field of multicriteria optimization and its application to design processes has grown very quickly in recent years. Researchers and practising engineers will find this book an comprehensive presentation of this subject. After an introduction to multicriteria optimization and the advantages of using multicriteria techniques, the first part of the book presents methods and computer procedures for solving multicriteria optimum design problems including interactive methods and knowledge-based systems. The second part presents an extensive range of applications of these methods to design processes in the fol- lowing fields: mechanisms and dynamic systems, aircraft and space technology, machine tool design, metal forming and cast metal technology, civil and architectural engineering, and structures made of advanced materials.