A Practical Design Approval Workflow for Freelancers
Aligno gives you a design approval workflow that cuts scope creep and gets explicit client sign-off. Follow this step-by-step process and you'll stop guessing whether a design was “liked” or actually “approved”. It works as design approval software or as a simple online proof approval process.
If you want to apply this process in software, start with our design feedback tool or explore our online proofing workflow. For the full end-to-end guide, see our complete client design approval process.
Why approvals go wrong
Most freelance projects stall at the feedback stage. A client sends a vague email, then changes their mind on a version you thought was done. Or they go quiet for a week.
The "Vague Approval" Trap
When a client says "Looks good!", that is notan approval. It's a passing comment. Two weeks later they ask for a full redesign because they never actually committed to the direction.
The 3-Step Approval Framework
Present, don't just send
Never just email a JPEG. Show the work somewhere clients can pin a comment or draw a box, arrow, or freehand mark on the exact spot, and walk them through your decisions before they see the visual.
Force a binary decision
Do not ask 'What do you think?'. Ask 'Does this meet the brief?'. Use a tool that forces a choice: Approve or Request Changes. And give the decision a deadline. Set a review due date in Aligno and it reminds the reviewer before the date, then follows up if the review goes overdue. The tool takes over the nagging.
Lock it down
Once approved, that version is locked. Any change to an approved version is a change order, and a change order is paid work. Aligno keeps a timestamped record of that approval, and on a paid plan you can export it as a CSV or a client-ready PDF. That boundary is what protects your time.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Implement this workflow today
Aligno is built to run this exact workflow. Send one link and get a clear decision back, with scope creep kept out.