Optimal seismic design of structures is a branch of structural optimization being developed by many researchers. Many optimization problems and solution methods have been proposed considering various seismic design procedures. This article is a comprehensive review of seismic design optimization of structures incorporating multi-objective problems. Different optimization types consisting of sizing, topology and shape optimizations applied to the seismic design are considered, and their solution methods are reviewed. Furthermore, advances in optimal seismic design of both building and nonbuilding structures are discussed. The developments in different disciplines of seismic design optimization are reviewed, and some open concerns and the relevant subjects deserving further research in the future are explained.