Abstract: Along with the advancement of electric power system reform, the change of the electric power survey and design market has promoted the Electric Power Design Institutes to speed up the transformation of international engineering companies to seek survival and development. The digital-3D design technique plays an important role in improving the market competitiveness for institutes. Firstly, this paper analyzed the new situation of markets that institutes face. The characteristics of Digital-3D design technique were introduced secondly. Then, the great effects of this technique in the EPC+O projects were analyzed. Finally, the status and problems exist of this technique were discussed. This paper pointed out the digital-3D design technique is faced with valuable opportunity now. It suggests that the Electric Power Design Institutes should take the innovation of design technique as important development strategy in the transformation process.