In this short survey, some approaches that can be used to solve the generalized -design problem are considered. Special cases of the generalized -design problem include well-known conjectures for -designs, degree sequences of graphs and hypergraphs, and partial Steiner systems. Also described are some related problems such as the characterization of -vectors of pure simplicial complexes, which are well known but little understood. Some suggestions how enumerative and polyhedral techniques may help are also described.