Presented at  International Conference on Engineering Design ICED 81 Rome, March 9- 13 (l981), this is a photocopy of a reprint. "The general environment of English-and German-Language regions is described, comparisons are made of the conditions under which the engineering profession works, the education systems for engineers are compared. With respect to the activities of professional engineers, the purposes for design methods are outlined, and some reference is made to developments in these methods...."