Dai ethnic clothing boasts vibrant colors, distinctive styles, and exquisite woven craftsmanship. Against the backdrop of the continuous fading of ethnic minority cultures due to various reasons, how can Dai ethnic clothing adapt to the development of modern society? How can it play a positive role in promoting Dai culture? These questions have drawn the attention of scholars engaged in Dai ethnic culture. This paper will take a modern design perspective to briefly categorize and classify the application of Dai ethnic clothing elements in visual communication. By elucidating the stylistic features of ethnic attire and conducting a detailed analysis of Dai ethnic clothing elements, the study ultimately derives conclusions about their application in contemporary design.