The present invention provides a non-global process for designing an integrated circuit layout. The process comprises locating an isolated layout feature of an integrated circuit layout and non-globally changing at least one lateral dimension of the isolated layout feature to obtain an optimized increment. The change in lateral dimension by the optimized increment does not violate a minimum separation distance between the isolated layout feature and the other adjacent layout features. The process may be incorporated into a system for non-globally modifying an integrated circuit layout, described in a data file or an integrated circuit design system.