Multimedia applications can provide enormous enrichment to the methodology of teaching, learning and learning by doing. When developing applications for the teaching of engineering design using these means of communication it is important to consider the special features of this field. This contribution gives a report on the experience gained by using multimedia applications in different ways of teaching in the education of engineering design students. In 12 years of using digital media to train students and six years of delivering compulsory lectures by tele-teaching, it has proved that the classic didactical forms such as lecture, tutorial, project work and private studies are still the mainstay of methodology. However, using information and communication technologies (ICT) in basic teaching forms has an impact on the impartment of knowledge itself as well as its perception by the students. This paper exemplifies the didactical forms successfully used in the education of engineering students. The following activities will be reported on: enhancement of conventional lectures and tutorials using multimedia; development of learning software for individual private study and its application; and delivery of tele-teaching lectures, and co-operative work during tele-tutorials. (Contains 1 table and 8 figures.)