This paper presents a novel design approach that could generate structural design alternatives having different topologies and then, select the optimum structure from them with simulataneously determining its optimum design variables related to geometry and the member size subjected to the multiple objective design environments. For this purpose, a specialized genetic algorithm, called StrGA_DeAl + MOGA, which can handle the design alternatives and multi-criteria problems very effectively, is developed for the optimal structural design. To validate the developed method, method, plain truss design problems are considered as illustrative example. To begin with, some possible topological of the truss structure are suggested based on the stability criterion that should be satisfied under the given loading condition. Then, with the consideration of the given multi-criteria, several different topology forms are selected as design alternatives for the second step of the conceptual design process. Based on the chosen topolgy of truss structures, the sizing or shaping optimization process starts to determine the optimum design parameters. Ten-bar truss problems are given in the paper to confirm the above concept and methodology.