This study investigates the dependence of the magnitude and the distribution of story ductility demands over the height of regular frames on the design story shear strength distribution. Regular frames subjected to ordinary ground motions with story shear strength distributions based on parabolic, triangular, and uniform design load patterns are studied. Results from this work suggest that for nondeteriorating, regular frames, the parabolic load pattern is more effective to limit the story ductility demands at the top of the structure, while the triangular and uniform load patterns are more effective to limit the story ductility demands at the bottom stories. Design story shear strength patterns are proposed based on the premise that an optimum design lateral load pattern would result in a uniform distribution of story ductilities over the height. The proposed design story shear strength patterns are a function of the ground motion and structural characteristics, as well as the performance level of interest, and they are deemed to be useful for the preliminary design of frame structures.