This paper formulates proposals for an induction-motor design suitable for a wide variety of inverter applications. Special attention is paid to retaining the advantages of induction motors, but the wide range of inverter waveforms and strategies complicates this attempt. The analysis leads to a design which, although not fully optimal, is easy to realise and gives good results over a wide application area. A preliminary discussion is presented on leakage reactance, to inquire by what means and to what extent it should be modified. The use of an external reactance is put forward. Skin-effect losses in stator and rotor conductors are analysed and suitable design adaptions are defended. Skewing and its impact on leakage reactance and losses are discussed.