This work gives an application of stochastic techniques for the optimization of stiffened plates in vibration. The search strategy consists of substituting, for finite element calculations in the optimization process, an approximate response from a Rayleigh-Ritz method. More precisely, the paper describes the use of a Rayleigh-Ritz method in creating function approximations for use in computationally intensive design optimization based on genetic algorithms. Two applications are presented; their deal with the optimization of stiffeners on plates by varying their positions, in order to maximize some natural frequencies, while having well defined dimensions. In other words, this work gives the fundamental idea of using a Ritz approximation to the response of a plate in vibration instead of finite element analysis.