The work aims to analyze the discipline background of design narrative research based on the development characteristics of the design discipline and define the relevant concepts of design narrative research based on the characteristics of the discipline, so as to attempt to construct narrative evaluation standards that belong to the design discipline. Based on the current research situation in the academic community, the discipline background and development trends of design narrative research were systematically sorted out. The comparative research was used to demonstrate in detail the similarities and differences between concepts such as narrative and narratology, narrative design and design narrative, and narrative design, and define the criteria for determining whether to narrate. Based on the depth and breadth of design narrative research, it is more reasonable to use the terms of narratology and design narrative research. In the specific research process, the suggestions on use of narration or narrative depend on the actual situation. It can be based on the similarities and differences between the two concepts, referring to their respective expression objects and contents. The most important criteria for judging narrative are "whether there are characters involved" and "whether there is a state change", which fully considers the characteristics and relationship between design discipline and narrative discipline, constructs open and diverse design narrative judgement criteria and lays a preliminary foundation for the establishment of design narratology in the future.