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In this paper we consider the maximal stiffness design of laminated plates subjected to single and multiple loads. The stiffness of the laminates are parametrized in terms of the so-called lamination parameters. These express the relation between the material parameters for the laminate and the laminate lay-up and are given as moments of the trigonometric functions that appear in the well-known rotation formulae for stiffness matrices. These relations are here given in a form suitable for optimization studies. The conditions for the laminate itself to be orthotropic are also given directly in terms of the lamination parameters. The design problem is analyzed by performing a reformulation to an equivalent problem which is local in character and it is shown how this, together with an enlargement of the design space to allow for out of plane chattering designs, leads to a significant simplification of the problem. Thus, the …