1. A computerized system for generating user-configured designs of integrated circuits, comprising: a user interface adapted to provide and receive information to and from a user, respectively; and an object-oriented design environment operatively coupled to said user interface and having a plurality of associated design tools, wherein a plurality of components associated with said IC design are represented as objects, said objects being substantially encapsulated and containing information relating to both the interfaces and build hierarchy associated with its respective design component, said design tools using said information within said objects to build said design, said objects being substantially user-configurable and selectable within said environment via said user interface.