This paper considers the coupled design problems of processor specification and task allocation for embedded multicomputer systems. A packing-based representation is proposed that allows the problems to be solved concurrently. An algorithm based on this representation is described that utilizes a new heuristic packing technique coupled with an incremental design advisor. This algo rithm, named [DAT, was benchmarked against three base line algorithms on a combination of real and synthetic test cases with respect [0 two figures of merit: hardware cost and run-rime. The real TeST cases are based on commer cially developed automotive electronic applications and the baseline algorithms represent a mixture of search. heu ristic and simulated annealing approaches. For all test cases, the IDAT algorithm was found to generate near optimal solutions with up to three orders of magnitude improvement in run-time compared to the baseline algo rithms.