In response to prevalent issues in design intervention in rural human settlements, such as "emphasizing form over substance", "prioritizing objects over processes" and "focusing on practice over theory", the work aims to systematically examine the role, function, and governance logic of design in this context and to explore effective intervention pathways, thereby providing theoretical guidance for rural construction practices. By reviewing existing practices and theories, three major problems in current design interventions are firstly extracted. Then, theoretical reflection is conducted from three dimensions of design role, design function, and design governance. On this basis, multidisciplinary perspectives are integrated to construct a design system that is rooted in the inherent characteristics of rural areas and responds to their actual needs, with "benefiting people while cherishing nature" as its core, "internal and external dual systems" as its framework, and "three concentric circles" as its approach. Rural human settlement design must break away from the simple transplantation of urban models. Through role transformation, theoretical construction, and paradigm innovation, design can intervene in an equal and collaborative manner, thereby genuinely addressing the actual needs of rural areas and promoting the sustainable development of livable, workable, and harmonious villages.