上海工艺美术职业学院是上海市唯一一所独立设置的艺术设计类高职院校，也是上海市唯一承担国家教育体制改革试点的高职院校和上海市唯一入选国家“双高”建设计划的高职院校。学校由始建于1960年的上海市工艺美术学校与始建于1979年的上海第二轻工业职工大学于2003年联合组建，以“立德、精艺、善美、致用”为校训，传承60余年工艺美术办学底蕴，形成了“职业融入学业，学业凸显职业，艺术融入技术，技术凸显艺术”的办学特色。

Shanghai Art & Design Academy is the only independently established higher vocational college specializing in art and design in Shanghai. It is also the only vocational college in Shanghai undertaking the national education system reform pilot and the only one selected into the national "Double High-Level" Construction Plan. Founded in 2003 through the merger of Shanghai Arts and Crafts School (established in 1960) and Shanghai No.2 Light Industry Workers' University (established in 1979), the academy adheres to the motto of "Moral Integrity, Exquisite Skills, Kindness & Beauty, and Practical Application". With over 60 years of educational heritage in arts and crafts, it has formed a distinctive school-running feature characterized by "integrating profession into academics, highlighting profession in academics, merging art into technology, and emphasizing art in technology".

学院下设手工艺术学院、产品设计学院、城市设计学院、数码艺术学院等二级学院，开设工艺美术品设计、首饰设计与工艺、数字媒体艺术设计、游戏艺术设计等22个专业，拥有“上海市数码艺术公共实训基地”“上海市工艺美术公共实训基地”等教学平台，汇集工艺美术大师工作室与国际设计师团队。现有专任教师254人，84.83%的专业教师具备“双师”资质，构建了以生产型实训工场和工作室为主体的办学形态，培养了大批高素质技能型艺术设计人才，被誉为“工艺美术家的摇篮”。

The academy comprises secondary colleges such as the School of Handicraft Art, School of Product Design, School of Urban Design, and School of Digital Arts, offering 22 majors including Arts and Crafts Design, Jewelry Design and Technology, Digital Media Art Design, and Game Art Design. It boasts teaching platforms like the "Shanghai Digital Art Public Training Base" and "Shanghai Arts and Crafts Public Training Base", bringing together master studios of arts and crafts and international designer teams. With 254 full-time teachers, 84.83% of whom have "dual-qualification" (both academic and professional expertise), the academy has established a school-running model centered on production-oriented training workshops and studios. It has cultivated numerous high-quality skilled art and design talents, earning the reputation as the "Cradle of Arts and Crafts Masters".