Abstract: A simple procedure of direct displacement-based design based on the concept of inelastic design spectra is developed. It is assumed that the yielding displacement depends on the structural geometry and the design ductility factors are calculated according to different limit states. The initial period of structures is based on inelastic displacement spectra, and then the base shear and overturning moment are obtained. Section design is carried out according to overturning moment. The new design procedure is then applied to a set of case study structures and validated through nonlinear dynamic analyses using OpenSees. Nonlinear time history analyses verify that this approach is applicable to control the target displacement to the performance acceptable limit.