Together, 设计 (shèjì) literally means “to plan and arrange,” which is the verb “to design.” Adding 师 (shī) elevates it from an action to a professional role: “a master of design.”
In contemporary China, the role of the 设计师 (shèjìshī) has seen a dramatic rise in prestige. For decades, China was known as the world's factory (“Made in China”). Now, there is a massive national and corporate push towards innovation, branding, and original creation—a shift to “Designed in China” (中国设计 Zhōngguó shèjì). Consequently, being a 设计师 is viewed as a modern, creative, and forward-thinking career path. It embodies progress and the country's ambition to become a global leader in technology and culture. While in the West, the line between “artist” and “designer” can be blurry, in Chinese, the distinction is often clearer. A 设计师 (shèjìshī) is typically seen as a problem-solver who works for a client or a company to create something functional and/or commercially viable. An 艺术家 (yìshùjiā), on the other hand, is generally focused on self-expression and creating fine art. The designer creates a product; the artist creates a “work of art” (作品 zuòpǐn).
设计师 (shèjìshī) is a standard job title used on business cards, in corporate settings, and in everyday conversation. You can specify the field by adding a descriptor before it.
The term is neutral and formal, suitable for any context where you would say “designer” in English.