Two critical stages in case-based design are the retrieval of a suitable design and the adaptation of that design. When a new design problem is presented to the system, the retrieval stage locates a similar design solution that is reusable in the current context. During adaptation, retrieved designs are modified to meet the specific demands of the target problem. This paper addresses both of these stages in the context of a case-based software design system called Déjà Vu. In particular, it argues that there is a close relationship between the reusability of a design and its adaptability. An approach is presented that allows the adaptation requirements of design cases to be accurately determined during retrieval and subsequently exploited during adaptation. It is shown that this approach results in improved retrieval accuracy, flexibility, and greater overall problem solving efficacy. In short, the authors' position is that this ‘adaptation-guided retrieval’ will ensure optimal reusability in case-based design.