扼要地介绍了近20年来著名科学家钱学森积极倡导和有力推动的关于“材料设计”的思想、理论、层次、方法和体系。经历届“八六三”计划专家组的努力，“材料设计”己列入国家级新材料发展计划，并取得了可喜的成果。

A brief introduction of the ideas, theories, hierarchical structure, methods, and systems of materials design initiated and promoted actively by famous scientist Qian Xuesen in recent 20 years is presented in this paper. After a sustained effort contributed by the “863” Program expert team, materials design has been scheduled into the nation´s general new material development plan and encouraging progress has been made.