The style is an interactive tutorial with much hands-on practice. Each student has sole use of a personal computer during the two days of the course. Small classes allow individual attention extending to investigation of a student's own specific problems and enable both the beginner and experienced practitioner to derive maximum benefit.

The three day course will begin with an overview of the structure of the program including some necessary conventions and the way in which it organizes data. Systems of units and how to change them will be included. Materials databases and their maintenance is an important topic. The major part of the first day and the second day will be concerned with techniques for the design of a wide range of components, from antireflection and antiglare coatings to wavelength division multiplexing filters. Powerful automatic methods will be introduced along with advice on when to use them. The difference between refinement and synthesis will be discussed. Analytical methods that help both in design and in the understanding of design will be explained. The performance of systems of coatings and the difference between theoretical design performance, measured performance, and the performance achieved under conditions of use in systems will be examined. Planning the manufacture of a coating that has been designed demands an understanding of tolerances and of monitoring techniques. The influence of factors in manufacture such as monitoring signal noise and variation of process conditions will be studied. Reverse engineering is important when practical results are not as expected, but there are also pitfalls that must be understood.

Comprehensive notes will be provided which not only cover the material of the lessons but also contain much additional information.