The target of the research work is the development of a concept for and the realisation of a user oriented design support framework, the Product Development Navigator (PDN). The PDN integrates the early design phases with calculation and optimisation tools. It is able to calculate and to optimise solutions based on the requirements of the product online and with-out bothering the designer with the known handling of the calculation and optimisation sys-tems, because· the PDN runs the calculation and optimisation systems in the background of the design process, and· the uniform user interface of the PDN acts as a navigator for the controlling of design calculation and optimisation purposes.This interface will have an integrated information input assistant, which provides tools, data, and methods in context (i.e. context sensitivity). It may be integrated into a given user inter-face.The PDN avoids the usual way of creating a CAD model, handing it over to a FEA system, wait for the calculation results which then are not automatically reflected in the CAD model. It helps the designer to avoid mistakes already in the conceptualisation phase. As a conse-quence, the product can be developed the best way already in the early phases of the design process.The PDN is an intelligent framework for existing support systems. It is structured in separate modules according to the processes for design, calculation, and optimisation to assure broad applicability and transferability. This modular structure is the basis for the integration of the different software tools and the appropriate interfaces between these tools. The PDN may in-clude CFD systems (Computational Fluid Dynamics), FEA systems (Finite Element Analy-ses), CAD systems (preferably 3D and feature-based), knowledge-based systems, and optimi-sation tools of any kind.