How to say "designer" in Japanese

• デザイナーCommon
  nounThe common, everyday word for a designer as a profession, in any field — fashion, graphics, product, web design. When you mean 'designer' in the ordinary sense, this is the word to use.
  彼女かのじょの希望きぼうはデザイナーになることだ。↗

  She hopes to become a designer.
• クレアトゥール
  nounA French loanword for a designer, used especially of haute couture and comparable high-fashion contexts; elsewhere it is uncommon, and デザイナー is the usual choice.
• 設計者せっけいしゃ
  nounCovers 'designer' in the technical sense: one who plans the design of structures, machines or systems. For a fashion or graphic designer it is not the word to use — take デザイナー.
• 図案家ずあんか
  nounOne who devises designs or patterns, especially decorative ones; less common than デザイナー and rarely the word you want for 'designer' as a profession.
• 考案者こうあんしゃ
  nounPrimarily 'inventor': the person who thinks up or devises an idea, device or scheme. Its 'designer' sense is secondary, so it is seldom the word for a professional designer.

Use 「デザイナー」 for the designer profession in any field; 設計者 for technical design of structures, machines or systems; 「クレアトゥール」 for haute couture; 図案家 and 考案者 are less common, narrower choices.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• デザイナーdesigner
• クレアトゥールdesigner (esp. haute couture, etc.)
• 設計者せっけいしゃdesigner
• 図案家ずあんかdesigner
• 考案者こうあんしゃinventor