The objective of this project is to combine virtual reality (VR) and engineering design to allow a designer to play an active role in the design sensitivity and optimization process. Virtual reality techniques provide a computer-generated environment for the designer to investigate multiple design changes while viewing and manipulating virtual objects by using human motion. Interactive design allows the designer to change design parameters and immediately determine the effect of the change by using sensitivity-based approximations. Combining virtual reality and interactive design techniques brings the designer directly in contact with the geometry of the design and the analysis results as design changes are investigated.