Performance of the inverse heat transfer method in application to the shape design for the heat convection problems has been evaluated. The approach is constructed by combining curvilinear grid generation scheme, direct problem solver, conjugate gradient optimization method, and redistribution method. Shape design for the outer surface profile of a solid medium in a crossflow that contains a heating element and features an isothermal outer surface has been carried out. Practical cases under different combinations of the dominant physical parameters, including Reynolds number (Re), thermal conductivity ratio (k(f)/k(s)), desired outer surface temperature (theta(d)), and Prandtl number (Pr), are studied to evaluate the effects of the physical parameters on the shape design.