This paper holds that the research path and logical starting point of Chinese design history began with the establishment of the system of the Ministry of Arts and Crafts, the Institute of Arts and Crafts and the Central Academy of Arts and Crafts. From the“great discussion of aesthetics”in the 1950s to the development of“technical aesthetics”in the 1980s and the translation and introduction of western modern design ideas, domestic design education and design research have been prompted to constantly reflect on the relationship between arts and crafts and art design. Over the past 70 years, the history of Chinese design has advanced in the path of discussion, exploration, reference, attempt and reflection. Today, the research vision of this young discipline has the characteristics of more globalization. Under the background of the development of the global Internet and the upsurge of artificial intelligence, design research must take into account the interdisciplinary attributes of humanities, social sciences and even natural sciences at the same time, so as to have the basis of discipline independence.