An optimization procedure is proposed for the design of cylindrically laminated composite shell having midplane symmetry and subjected to axial force, torsion and internal pressure. Tsai-Wu and Tsai-Hill failure criteria are taken as objective functions. The stacking sequence represents the design variable. The optimal design formulation based on state space method is adopted and solution proccedure is described with the emphasis on the method of calculations of the design sensitivities. A gradient projection algorithm is employed for the optimization process. Numerical results are presented for the several test problems.