Based on an industrial survey with experts, this paper discusses relevant aspects regarding the way in which fluid power systems are designed. The paper briefly describes a computational support tool, developed as a prototype, to improve the design process in this area. The description includes issues of knowledge representation, domain selection, the expert system design process and validation; it also presents a development time frame and industrial potential related to the system. The paper suggests ways of applying such system in order to provide a training facility for new engineers and an empowering tool for experiencing designers, to integrate different knowledge sources in a computational environment, and to apply Internet technologies to facilitate communications among design agents.