Layout　is　created　for　elements　(images,　texts)　arrangement　which　helps　show　information　directly　and　clearly.　Traditional　layout　design　mainly　relies　on　templates　or　the　expertise　of　experienced　designers　and　usually　a　good　design　requires　a　significantly　investment　of　time　and　money.　Benefitting　from　the　deep　learning＇s　quick　development,　automatic　layout　design　has　progressed　based　on　convolutional　neural　network　especially　the　generative　adversarial　networks　(GANs).　Existing　automatic　layout　design　works　mainly　rely　on　the　framework　of　generative　adversarial　networks　(GANs),　which　can　further　be　divided　into　the　graphic　layout,　components　layout　and　text　title　layout　according　to　the　difference　of　tasks.　Focusing　on　above　three　aspects,　this　paper　expounds　on　all　layout　design　models　based　on　GAN　and　their　application　directions,　and　looks　forward　to　future　research　directions.　It　can　be　used　as　a　trade-off　and　reference　for　a　researcher　to　choose　GAN-based　methods　when　conducting　layout.　©　2023　SPIE.