From its inception the journal Artificial Intelligence for Engineering Design, Analysis and Manufacturing recognized that designing is the precursor to analysis and manufacturing by placing it at the front of the list of areas it covers. Designing distinguishes itself from other aspects of engineering by its goal of changing the world within which it operates: designers are change agents. This characteristic makes designing a difficult task even for humans let alone for machines, because most of our knowledge and the means to acquire it assume that the world is given to us and what we need to do is characterize it. The Journal provided one of two continuing publication outlets for artificial intelligence (AI) in engineering at the time. This created the opportunity to have a focal point for the publication of archival research in the area, research that had previously appeared in disparate locations. It also offered the potential to develop a coherent research area where future research could build on previously published research.