During the last thirty years software systems have been dedicated to registering, storing and retrieving data. Information technology results in massive amounts of data readily accessible to the decision maker. However, today's software systems are often of little help in the decision making itself. Making qualified decisions has become difficult given the size and complexity of the data, in an environment where it gets continuously updated and where decision's timeliness has become critical. For example, designing the perfect product, organizing the most efficient production process, or making a startling scientific discovery, each of these tasks now requires considering vast amounts of data interacting in extremely complex ways. Carrying out the task means choosing a way of proceeding, but there are often huge numbers of possibilities. Making a qualified decision means selecting the best of those possibilities, but the tools for doing so are often lacking or perform inadequately. Optimal Design software brings qualified decisions within the reach of the decision makers. It exploits the latest technology to optimize their operations, offering them a decisive advantage over their competitors.