Apparatus and method for designing an electrical component including a processor and a user interface, enabling a user to input a desired characteristic of the electrical component, such as inductance or quality factor at an operating frequency for an integrated spiral inductor. The processor is configured to determine sufficiently optimal characteristics of the electrical component, combining the user desired characteristic with other preset characteristics of the electrical component, to define a first model of the electrical component, to simulate the model having the combined characteristics to determine performance, and to draw on a rule-set of expert knowledge relating to the general dependency of at least one design criterion, such as a physical, geometrical or performance characteristic, with another design criterion in order to enable modification of the model, thereby iteratively to determine a design solution for the electrical component through one or more simulations and modifications using the rule-set.