The work aims to explore the research hotspots and future development trends of tactile design by visually studying the research in the tactile design field from 2001 to 2023 through bibliometric analysis and analyzing the current research status. The WoS Core Collection was selected as the data source platform, and the bibliometric analysis was combined with Bibliometrix and VOSviewer to quantitatively analyze publication output, journals, research strength, and co-cited references and prepare knowledge maps. Key word clustering networks and thematic maps were generated with Bibliometrix and Citespace, providing the comprehensive analysis of popular themes and development trends in the tactile domain. The publication output in tactile design continued to grow, encompassing disciplines such as computer science, materials science, biomedical science, psychology, and food science. The USA, China and Japan were at the forefront of this field and had collaborative relationships. Key word clustering and co-occurrence network analysis revealed that the tactile design could be divided into three stages: initial cognition, neural basis and interactive perception, and application of tactile research. A linear design model is proposed for tactile design, which, starting from the perspective of individual neuroscience, derives tactile preferences for material properties based on perceptual dimensions and applies them to practical product design. In the future, the field of tactile design should be continuously excavated and explored, and tactile technology should be applied to actual products to help people with sensory disabilities expand their social activities, give consumers substantial perceptual and emotional experience and enhance the emotional value of products.