The text is organized around first introducing the global view of digital integrated circuit design, VLSI and design automation, and then sequentially developing the topics from the materials and devices level, up through the circuits and then system level. This mirrors the structural hierarchy of the chip design field itself. While building a solid foundation and reference for the chip design, it integrates the discussion with hands-on examples of the design automation software, included in the book, to illustrate not only the layout and simulation concepts, but also how an industry designer would put them into practice. Both theory and application are effectively integrated into a cohesive treatment of the subject and art of chip design.