Abstract: Art Nouveau is a major step for art design to develop from traditional to modern stage,which serves a connecting link between the preceding and following development stages.Art nouveau and contemporary art share some important characteristics such as in the harmonious relation between man and nature,the emphasis on nationality and regionalism,the inheritance of multi-culture,the content obscurity and polysemy.Art Nouveau has produced great influence on contemporary art design mainly in inheritance of traditional art design and innovation.

Key words: art nouveau, contemporary art design