平面设计这个术语出于英文"graphic"，在现代平面设计形成前，这个术语泛指各种通过印刷方式形成的平面艺术形式。因此，当时这个词是与"艺术"连用的，统称为"Graphic design"。"平面"这个术语当时的含义不仅指作品是二维空间的、平面的，它还具有批量生产的，并因此而与单张单件的艺术品区别开来。设计（design）这个词，是由日文里以汉字翻译"design"这个字而成。日文在翻译"design"这个字的时候，除了"设计"这个词以外，也曾用"意匠"、"图案"、"构成"、"造形"等等汉字所组成的 词来表示"design"。 所以在了解什么是"设计"时，我们可以先对这些字词来解释：英语的design则源自拉丁语的de－sinare，是为"作－记号"的意思。在十六世纪意大利文disegno开始有现今design的含意，后经由法文的中介，而为英文所引用，成为现今英文中的design。
The term graphic design comes from the English word "graphic". Before the formation of modern graphic design, this term generally referred to various graphic art forms formed through printing. Therefore, at that time, this word was used in conjunction with "art" and collectively referred to as "graphic design". The term "flat" at that time not only meant that the work was two-dimensional and flat, but also had mass production, which distinguished it from individual pieces of art. The word "design" is translated from Japanese into Chinese characters. When translating the word "design" in Japanese, in addition to the word "design", words composed of Chinese characters such as "craftsmanship", "pattern", "composition", "form", etc. have also been used to represent "design". So when understanding what "design" means, we can first explain these words: the English word "design" originates from the Latin word "de sinare", which means "to make a mark.". In the 16th century, the Italian word disegno began to have the current meaning of design, which was later quoted in English through a French intermediary and became the current design in English.
特别是西方艺术史与皇家艺术教育学院课 程里，从文艺复兴开始，就慢慢的形成以建筑专业技艺为首，并结合绘画专业技艺与雕塑专业技艺的承传，三者合称为造型艺术，合称为设计。我们从这个角度就比较容易了解"设计就是具有美感、使用与纪念功能的造形活动或营造活动"的定义与解释了。不过不管怎么区分，纯美术也好、手工艺也好、建筑也好、设计也好，都要能符合"具有美感经验、使用功能、纪念功能"的条件[3]。
Especially in the courses of Western art history and the Royal Academy of Art Education, starting from the Renaissance, architectural skills have gradually formed, combined with the inheritance of painting and sculpture skills, collectively known as plastic art and design. From this perspective, it is relatively easy for us to understand the definition and explanation of "design is a shaping or creating activity with aesthetic, usage, and commemorative functions.". However, no matter how it is distinguished, whether it is pure art, handicrafts, architecture, or design, all must meet the conditions of having aesthetic experience, functional use, and commemorative function.
