Abstract. Design engineers can choose from a large variety of materials in order to fulfill a certain function. In those fields of application with a lower level of complexity, it is often sufficient to manufacture the entire component in a "monolithic" manner from one single material. Concurrent, partly contradictory and, most probably, local requirements that must be fulfilled by a component often make material selection more difficult. As a consequence, it is often necessary to use several different materials with a local and functional orientation, which is a part of the multi-material design strategy. The potential of different materials can be used most effectively if this information is made available to the design engineers as early on in the design process as possible. The aim of the SFB 675 sub-project C7, therefore, is the development of a systematic design approach (Finite Element Design, FED) that focuses on finite component elements. As a result, the potential of the optimization of local properties is taken into consideration, and the interaction between the materials, production processes, and design can all be described.