1. A method of using a data processor for optimizing a design of a component, in which method principal design variants are generated, the principal design variants having design parameters which are common to principal design variants and having design variables which differ between the principal design variants, the method comprising; a) inputting a first principal design variant to said data processor and generating, by means of a rule-based geometry means, at least one secondary design variant from said first principal design variant, b) analyzing the design variants to generate analysis results, c) subjecting the analysis results to an optimization process, and d) iterating steps a) to c) a desired number of times in said data processor, and in each such iteration, changing a design variable to generate a further principal design variant which replaces said first principal design variant, wherein said optimization process comprises a first stage employing a genetic algorithm, and a second stage employing a gradient search algorithm.