<PAGE>

     AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON APRIL 18, 1997.
                                                    REGISTRATION NO. 333-______ 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                      FORM S-8
                              REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                       UNDER
                            THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                          QUICKTURN DESIGN SYSTEMS, INC.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)


               DELAWARE                             77-0159619
      ------------------------          -----------------------------------
      (STATE OF INCORPORATION)          (I.R.S. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NO.)

                                440 Clyde Avenue
                        Mountain View, California 94043
   (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)


                            1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                 1993 EMPLOYEE QUALIFIED STOCK PURCHASE PLAN 
                           (FULL TITLE OF THE PLAN)

                                 Keith R. Lobo
                    President and Chief Executive Officer
                        Quickturn Design Systems, Inc.
                                440 Clyde Avenue
                        Mountain View, California 94043
                                (415) 967-3300
(NAME, ADDRESS, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)

                                  COPIES TO:
                           HERBERT P. FOCKLER, ESQ.
                      WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI
                           PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION
                              650 PAGE MILL ROAD
                           PALO ALTO, CA 94304-1050
                                (415) 493-9300

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     PROPOSED         PROPOSED     
                                                     MAXIMUM          MAXIMUM           AMOUNT OF  
TITLE OF SECURITIES           AMOUNT TO BE        OFFERING PRICE      AGGREGATE       REGISTRATION 
 TO BE REGISTERED             REGISTERED(1)        PER SHARE(2)     OFFERING PRICE        FEE      
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                           <C>                 <C>               <C>               <C>
Common Stock, $.001 par
value. . . . . . . . . . .      1,750,000             $7.125        $12,468,750.00      $3,778.41

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
(1)  Includes 1,000,000 shares to be registered in connection with the 1997
     Stock Option Plan and 750,000 shares to be registered in connection with
     the 1993 Employee Qualified Stock Purchase Plan.
(2)  With respect to (i) 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock available for future
     grant under the 1997 Plan and (ii) 750,000 shares of Common Stock available
     for future grant under the 1993 Employee Qualified Stock Purchase Plan, the
     estimated Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share was estimated pursuant
     to Rule 457(c) whereby the per share price was determined by reference to
     the average between the high and low price reported in the Nasdaq National
     Market on April 16, 1997, which average was $7.125. 
                                                                                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<PAGE>

                         QUICKTURN DESIGN SYSTEMS, INC.

                       REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8


                                     PART I

                     INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS

ITEM 1.        PLAN INFORMATION.

     Omitted pursuant to the instructions and provisions of Form S-8.

ITEM 2.        REGISTRATION INFORMATION AND EMPLOYEE PLAN ANNUAL INFORMATION.

     Omitted pursuant to the instructions and provisions of Form S-8.

                                     PART II

                 INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.   INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCES.

     There are hereby incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement
the following documents and information heretofore filed by the Registrant with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"):

     (1)  The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1996.

     (2)  The description of the Registrant's Common Stock contained in the
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated October 29, 1993 (File No.
0-22738) filed pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and declared
effective in December 1993, including any amendment or report filed for the
purpose of updating such description.

     In addition, all documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act on or after the date of
this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective
amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which
deregisters all securities then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be part hereof
from the date of filing of such documents.

ITEM 4.   DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

     Not applicable.


ITEM 5.   INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

     None.


                                      II-1
<PAGE>

ITEM 6.    INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

     The Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation limits the liability of
directors for monetary damages to the maximum extent permitted by Delaware law. 
Delaware law provides that directors of a corporation will not be personally
liable for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duties as directors,
except for liability (i) for any breach of their duty of loyalty to the
corporation or its stockholders; (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or
that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (iii) for
unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions as
provided in Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law; or (iv) for any
transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

     The Registrant's Bylaws provide that the Registrant shall indemnify its
directors and executive officers and may indemnify its other officers,
employees, agents and other agents to the fullest extent permitted by law.  The
Registrant believes that indemnification under its Bylaws covers at least
negligence and gross negligence on the part of indemnified parties.  The
Registrant's Bylaws also permit the Registrant to secure insurance on behalf of
any officer, director, employee or other agent for any liability arising out of
his or her actions in such capacity, regardless of whether the Bylaws would
permit indemnification.

     The Registrant has entered into agreements to indemnify its directors and
officers, in addition to indemnification provided for in the Registrant's
Bylaws.  These agreements, among other things, indemnify the Registrant's
directors and officers for certain expenses (including attorneys' fees),
judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by any such person in any
action or proceeding, including any action by or in the right of the Registrant,
arising out of such person's services as a director or officer of the
Registrant, any subsidiary of the Registrant or any other company or enterprise
to which the person provides services at the request of the Registrant.

     The Registrant also maintains an insurance policy insuring its directors
and officers against liability for certain acts and omissions while acting in
their official capacities.

ITEM 7.   EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

     Not applicable.

ITEM 8.   EXHIBITS.

         Exhibit
         Number                 Description                    
         -------                -----------
           4.1      1997 Stock Option Plan
           4.2      1993 Employee Qualified Stock Purchase Plan
           5.1      Opinion of counsel as to legality of securities being
                    registered
          23.1      Consent of counsel (contained in Exhibit 5.1)
          23.2      Consent of Independent Accountants
          24.1      Powers of Attorney (see page II-5)



                                   II-2

<PAGE>

ITEM 9.   UNDERTAKINGS.

(a)  The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

     (1)   To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being 
made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

           (i)   To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of 
the Securities Act of 1933;

           (ii)  To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising 
after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent 
post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, 
represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the 
Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or 
decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of 
securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any 
deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range 
may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant 
to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price 
represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price 
set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective 
Registration Statement.

          (iii)  To include any material information with respect to the plan 
of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any 
material change to such information in the Registration Statement.

          PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not 
apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective 
amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the 
Registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange 
Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.
    
    (2)   That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the 
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to 
be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, 
and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the 
initial bona fide offering thereof.
    
    (3)   To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment 
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination 
of the offering.

(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of 
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of 
the Registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of 
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an 
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the 
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement 
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such 
securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering 
thereof.

(h) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities 
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons 
of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the 
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and 
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as 
expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a 
claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by 
the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or 
controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, 
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling 
person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant 
will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by 
controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate 


                                 II-3

<PAGE>

jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against 
public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed 
by the final adjudication of such issue.


                                 II-4

<PAGE>

                              SIGNATURES

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Mountain View, State of California, on this 11th day
of April, 1997.
                                 QUICKTURN DESIGN SYSTEMS, INC.            

                                 By: /s/ RAYMOND K. OSTBY                 
                                    ----------------------------------------
                                         Raymond K. Ostby
                                         Vice President, Finance and 
                                         Administration, Chief Financial 
                                         Officer and Secretary


                            POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Keith R. Lobo and Raymond K. Ostby,
jointly and severally, as his attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of
substitution, for him in any and all capacities to sign any amendments to this
Registration Statement on Form S-8, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto
and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorney-in-
fact, or his substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons on the
11th day of April, 1997 in the capacities indicated.


         SIGNATURE                             TITLE
---------------------------   ------------------------------------------


/s/ KEITH R. LOBO             President, Chief Executive Officer and  
---------------------------   Director (PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER)  
  Keith R. Lobo


                              Vice President, Finance and        
/s/ RAYMOND K. OSTBY          Administration, Chief Financial    
---------------------------   Officer and Secretary (PRINCIPAL   
  Raymond K. Ostby            FINANCIAL AND ACCOUNTING OFFICER)


/s/ GLEN M. ANTLE          
---------------------------   Chairman of the Board of Directors
  Glen M. Antle


/s/ RICHARD C. ALBERDING   
---------------------------   Director
  Richard C. Alberding


/s/ MICHAEL R. D'AMOUR     
---------------------------   Director
  Michael R. D'Amour


/s/ YEN-SON HUANG          
---------------------------   Director
  Yen-Son (Paul) Huang


/s/ DAVID K. LAM           
---------------------------   Director
  David K. Lam




                                      II-5
<PAGE>

                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS


           Exhibit                     
           Number                 Description 
           -------                -----------
             4.1     1997 Stock Option Plan
             4.2     1993 Employee Qualified Stock Purchase Plan
             5.1     Opinion of counsel as to legality of securities being
                      registered
            23.1     Consent of counsel (contained in Exhibit 5.1)
            23.2     Consent of Independent Accountants
            24.1     Powers of Attorney (see page II-5)
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 17063}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "QUICKTURN DESIGN SYSTEMS INC", "cik": "0000914252", "assigned-sic": "3825", "irs-number": "770159619", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-25459", "film-number": "97583621"}, "business-address": {"street1": "440 CLYDE AVE", "city": "MOUNTAIN VIEW", "state": "CA", "zip": "94043", "phone": "4159673300"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "440 CLYDE AVE", "city": "MOUNTAIN VIEW", "state": "CA", "zip": "94043"}}
AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON APRIL 18, 1997.
                                                    REGISTRATION NO. 333-______ 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                      FORM S-8
                              REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                       UNDER
                            THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                          QUICKTURN DESIGN SYSTEMS, INC.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

               DELAWARE                             77-0159619
      ------------------------          -----------------------------------
      (STATE OF INCORPORATION)          (I.R.S. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NO.)

                                440 Clyde Avenue
                        Mountain View, California 94043
   (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)

                            1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                 1993 EMPLOYEE QUALIFIED STOCK PURCHASE PLAN 
                           (FULL TITLE OF THE PLAN)

                                 Keith R. Lobo
                    President and Chief Executive Officer
                        Quickturn Design Systems, Inc.
                                440 Clyde Avenue
                        Mountain View, California 94043
                                (415) 967-3300
(NAME, ADDRESS, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)

                                  COPIES TO:
                           HERBERT P. FOCKLER, ESQ.
                      WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI
                           PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION
                              650 PAGE MILL ROAD
                           PALO ALTO, CA 94304-1050
                                (415) 493-9300
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     PROPOSED         PROPOSED     
                                                     MAXIMUM          MAXIMUM           AMOUNT OF  
TITLE OF SECURITIES           AMOUNT TO BE        OFFERING PRICE      AGGREGATE       REGISTRATION 
 TO BE REGISTERED             REGISTERED(1)        PER SHARE(2)     OFFERING PRICE        FEE      
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock, $.001 par
value. . . . . . . . . . .      1,750,000             $7.125        $12,468,750.00      $3,778.41

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1)  Includes 1,000,000 shares to be registered in connection with the 1997
     Stock Option Plan and 750,000 shares to be registered in connection with
     the 1993 Employee Qualified Stock Purchase Plan.
(2)  With respect to (i) 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock available for future
     grant under the 1997 Plan and (ii) 750,000 shares of Common Stock available
     for future grant under the 1993 Employee Qualified Stock Purchase Plan, the
     estimated Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share was estimated pursuant
     to Rule 457(c) whereby the per share price was determined by reference to
     the average between the high and low price reported in the Nasdaq National
     Market on April 16, 1997, which average was $7.125. 
                                                                                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
QUICKTURN DESIGN SYSTEMS, INC.

                       REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8

                                     PART I

                     INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS

ITEM 1.        PLAN INFORMATION.

     Omitted pursuant to the instructions and provisions of Form S-8.

ITEM 2.        REGISTRATION INFORMATION AND EMPLOYEE PLAN ANNUAL INFORMATION.

     Omitted pursuant to the instructions and provisions of Form S-8.

                                     PART II

                 INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.   INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCES.

     There are hereby incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement
the following documents and information heretofore filed by the Registrant with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"):

     (1)  The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1996.

     (2)  The description of the Registrant's Common Stock contained in the
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated October 29, 1993 (File No.
0-22738) filed pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and declared
effective in December 1993, including any amendment or report filed for the
purpose of updating such description.

     In addition, all documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act on or after the date of
this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective
amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which
deregisters all securities then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be part hereof
from the date of filing of such documents.

ITEM 4.   DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

     Not applicable.

ITEM 5.   INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

     None.

                                      II-1
ITEM 6.    INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

     The Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation limits the liability of
directors for monetary damages to the maximum extent permitted by Delaware law. 
Delaware law provides that directors of a corporation will not be personally
liable for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duties as directors,
except for liability (i) for any breach of their duty of loyalty to the
corporation or its stockholders; (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or
that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (iii) for
unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions as
provided in Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law; or (iv) for any
transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

     The Registrant's Bylaws provide that the Registrant shall indemnify its
directors and executive officers and may indemnify its other officers,
employees, agents and other agents to the fullest extent permitted by law.  The
Registrant believes that indemnification under its Bylaws covers at least
negligence and gross negligence on the part of indemnified parties.  The
Registrant's Bylaws also permit the Registrant to secure insurance on behalf of
any officer, director, employee or other agent for any liability arising out of
his or her actions in such capacity, regardless of whether the Bylaws would
permit indemnification.

     The Registrant has entered into agreements to indemnify its directors and
officers, in addition to indemnification provided for in the Registrant's
Bylaws.  These agreements, among other things, indemnify the Registrant's
directors and officers for certain expenses (including attorneys' fees),
judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by any such person in any
action or proceeding, including any action by or in the right of the Registrant,
arising out of such person's services as a director or officer of the
Registrant, any subsidiary of the Registrant or any other company or enterprise
to which the person provides services at the request of the Registrant.

     The Registrant also maintains an insurance policy insuring its directors
and officers against liability for certain acts and omissions while acting in
their official capacities.

ITEM 7.   EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

     Not applicable.

ITEM 8.   EXHIBITS.

         Exhibit
         Number                 Description                    
         -------                -----------
           4.1      1997 Stock Option Plan
           4.2      1993 Employee Qualified Stock Purchase Plan
           5.1      Opinion of counsel as to legality of securities being
                    registered
          23.1      Consent of counsel (contained in Exhibit 5.1)
          23.2      Consent of Independent Accountants
          24.1      Powers of Attorney (see page II-5)

                                   II-2
ITEM 9.   UNDERTAKINGS.

(a)  The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

     (1)   To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being 
made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

           (i)   To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of 
the Securities Act of 1933;

           (ii)  To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising 
after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent 
post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, 
represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the 
Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or 
decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of 
securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any 
deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range 
may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant 
to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price 
represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price 
set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective 
Registration Statement.

          (iii)  To include any material information with respect to the plan 
of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any 
material change to such information in the Registration Statement.

          PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not 
apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective 
amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the 
Registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange 
Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.
    
    (2)   That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the 
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to 
be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, 
and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the 
initial bona fide offering thereof.
    
    (3)   To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment 
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination 
of the offering.

(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of 
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of 
the Registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of 
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an 
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the 
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement 
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such 
securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering 
thereof.

(h) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities 
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons 
of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the 
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and 
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as 
expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a 
claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by 
the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or 
controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, 
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling 
person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant 
will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by 
controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate 

                                 II-3
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against 
public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed 
by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                 II-4
SIGNATURES

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Mountain View, State of California, on this 11th day
of April, 1997.
                                 QUICKTURN DESIGN SYSTEMS, INC.            

                                 By: /s/ RAYMOND K. OSTBY                 
                                    ----------------------------------------
                                         Raymond K. Ostby
                                         Vice President, Finance and 
                                         Administration, Chief Financial 
                                         Officer and Secretary

                            POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Keith R. Lobo and Raymond K. Ostby,
jointly and severally, as his attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of
substitution, for him in any and all capacities to sign any amendments to this
Registration Statement on Form S-8, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto
and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorney-in-
fact, or his substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons on the
11th day of April, 1997 in the capacities indicated.

         SIGNATURE                             TITLE
---------------------------   ------------------------------------------

/s/ KEITH R. LOBO             President, Chief Executive Officer and  
---------------------------   Director (PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER)  
  Keith R. Lobo

                              Vice President, Finance and        
/s/ RAYMOND K. OSTBY          Administration, Chief Financial    
---------------------------   Officer and Secretary (PRINCIPAL   
  Raymond K. Ostby            FINANCIAL AND ACCOUNTING OFFICER)

/s/ GLEN M. ANTLE          
---------------------------   Chairman of the Board of Directors
  Glen M. Antle

/s/ RICHARD C. ALBERDING   
---------------------------   Director
  Richard C. Alberding

/s/ MICHAEL R. D'AMOUR     
---------------------------   Director
  Michael R. D'Amour

/s/ YEN-SON HUANG          
---------------------------   Director
  Yen-Son (Paul) Huang

/s/ DAVID K. LAM           
---------------------------   Director
  David K. Lam

                                      II-5
INDEX TO EXHIBITS

           Exhibit                     
           Number                 Description 
           -------                -----------
             4.1     1997 Stock Option Plan
             4.2     1993 Employee Qualified Stock Purchase Plan
             5.1     Opinion of counsel as to legality of securities being
                      registered
            23.1     Consent of counsel (contained in Exhibit 5.1)
            23.2     Consent of Independent Accountants
            24.1     Powers of Attorney (see page II-5)