by choosing color of eyes, hair, the height, build, intelligence and personality?

There is a movie called "Gattaca" that directly relates to this topic. I don't think I would entirely design my child but I would definitely have any hereditary diseases eliminated from his/her DNA, everything else I would just leave up to fate.

As Richie mentioned, "Gattacia" did go about this topic. I do see it as a possiblity for people to do, though I doubt intelligence can be effect as us some is inherited but there is no short-cut for experience. Designer kids, I see more focused on elimination of genetic diseases though cosmetics are a possiblity too. We try not to focus on looks alone or say we don't value it but it is actually highly prized. The issue, looking at the movie, is society itself. The part no one would want to see is superiority complexes because they are 'perfect' to their bloodline. Old fashion will never go way though. Simply because the act of creating is too enjoyable to give up for a lab and a petridish.

I think it would be, even 50 years from now, a huge controversy to eliminate something as troublesome as genetic diseases from a preconcieved child. There will always be the issue of whether we are imposing on God's turf or not. In my opinion, improving the health and life of the human race is more important, however, I am not in charge of ethics. Hopefully we will get the chance to alter defects because that could only benefit us.
Another notion that I would probably take to would be designing my child with the best traits both my husband and I had. Instead of it being luck of the draw, it'd be nice to see to it that he or she came out stunning. Then again, what the "best" traits are of someone differs from person to person.

I concur that "Gattaca" is a good example of a possible future that this tech could produce. Unfortuately present day economics and elitism through class would only further divide society. As the tech is introduced, the intial cost would be so astronomical, only the super-rich could afford it(look at the cost of high-end plastic surgery now). This would create a genetically and economically super elite class that would continue to perpetuate itself with each generation.

Also if "designer genes" would be able to shape the physical characteristics, in this racially diverse world, whose standard of beauty will be the desired goal? Where does that leave those that don't meet that standard. Unfortunately, our society is very flexible with its capablity for expanding prejudice based on how people look.

Ask just about any Middle-Easterner of Arab descent in America today if this is a true staement or not.

I might I wanted to.

I agree with Riche in EVERY single way
I want the best for my kids, so I would only do what is nessesary to protect them. I would see a genetic counselor while my wife was pregnant or before she would be impregnated to have all birth defects and diseases eliminated. I don't care how my kid turns out as long as I know that I didn't design him to be some kind of freaky build a bear.
But I'm thirteen, so I have a lot of time before I have to worry about this