What is disclosed is a system and method for specifying a custom document as a multi-criteria constraint optimization problem, and a method to automatically create the specified document using existing constraint optimization solving algorithms. The present method specifies the document, its content components, its layout requirements, and its desired aesthetic criteria are expressed as elements of a constraint optimization problem which when solved, results in an automated document layout for the set of content components that satisfies not only certain primitive content and layout constraints, but which also advantageously fulfills desired design properties and which provides a way to ensure that the generated document is well designed. The method for automatic document layout comprises the steps of determining a set of variables that can be adjusted to achieve a satisfactory layout; expressing said satisfactory layout as a set of constraints on said determined set of variables wherein at least one of said set of constraints is expressed as being optimizable; and solving said constraints to find a layout which solves for the variables over the constraints. The system for automatic document layout on multi-function office equipment comprises means for document layout constraint acquisition; means for document layout variable specification which specifies a set of variables that can be adjusted to achieve a satisfactory layout; means for relationship-constraint to optimization-constraint conversion which expresses said satisfactory layout as a set of constraints on said set of variables wherein at least one of said set of constraints is expressed as being optimizable; and means for constraint optimization for solving said constraints to find a layout which solves for the variables over said constraints.