diff --git a/.sdlc/features/user-preferences/manifest.yaml b/.sdlc/features/user-preferences/manifest.yaml
index 1b509ff..4fd8deb 100644
--- a/.sdlc/features/user-preferences/manifest.yaml
+++ b/.sdlc/features/user-preferences/manifest.yaml
@@ -13,8 +13,10 @@ artifacts:
         status: pending
         path: audit.md
     design:
-        status: draft
+        status: approved
         path: design.md
+        approved_by: user
+        approved_at: 2026-02-09T02:23:50.511364172Z
     qa_plan:
         status: pending
         path: qa-plan.md
diff --git a/.sdlc/state.yaml b/.sdlc/state.yaml
index d317ea0..ce2162d 100644
--- a/.sdlc/state.yaml
+++ b/.sdlc/state.yaml
@@ -6,9 +6,9 @@ active_work:
         - slug: user-preferences
           phase: specified
 blocked: []
-last_updated: 2026-02-09T02:18:19.467042953Z
-last_action: TRANSITION
-last_actor: cli
+last_updated: 2026-02-09T02:23:50.512326804Z
+last_action: APPROVE_ARTIFACT
+last_actor: user
 history:
     - timestamp: 2026-02-09T02:15:19.934883983Z
       action: CREATE_FEATURE
@@ -25,3 +25,8 @@ history:
       feature: user-preferences
       actor: cli
       result: success
+    - timestamp: 2026-02-09T02:23:50.512326413Z
+      action: APPROVE_ARTIFACT
+      feature: user-preferences
+      actor: user
+      result: success