Theoretical　studies　and　perspectives　have　argued　that　humanities　positively　influence　art　and　design　learning　performance,　yet　little　study　has　tested　this　argument　empirically.　Further　than　testing　the　impact　of　humanities　on　art　and　design　learning　performance,　the　present　study　explores　how　humanities　influence　art　and　design　learning　performance.　The　present　study　investigates　the　influence　of　humanistic　knowledge　(e.g.,　history　and　literature)　and　skills,　capabilities　(e.g.,　innovation　and　narrative)　and　spirits　on　art　and　design　learning　performance　(e.g.,　professional　course　marks)　empirically　via　a　survey.　The　moderations　of　age　and　gender　are　also　tested.　The　results　showed　that　humanistic　knowledge　and　skills　and　humanistic　spirits　increase　the　art　and　design　learning　performance　of　visual　communication　and　industrial　design　students,　respectively.　Humanistic　capabilities　increase　art　and　design　learning　performance　for　all　subjects.　Besides,　we　found　the　individual　difference　that　the　effects　of　humanistic　capabilities　and　humanistic　spirits　are　stronger　in　male　visual　communication　students　than　in　female　visual　communication　students.　The　pedagogical　strategy　of　humanistic　education　for　improving　art　and　design　learning　is　discussed　based　on　the　results.