We consider the variational problem which consists in minimizing the compliance of a prescribed amount of elastic material, placed into a given design region, and sumbitted to an exterior balanced load. We discuss the asymptotic analysis of this problem when the design region is either a cylinder of infinitesimal height (case of thin plates) or a cylinder of infinitesimal cross section (case of thin rods). The results are contained in some recent papers in collaboration with Guy Bouchitte' and Pierre Seppecher.