diff --git a/.sdlc/features/user-preferences/manifest.yaml b/.sdlc/features/user-preferences/manifest.yaml
index 11a7e98..f354fc0 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: 2026-02-09T03:15:39.312285548Z
     qa_plan:
         status: pending
         path: qa-plan.md
diff --git a/.sdlc/state.yaml b/.sdlc/state.yaml
index 19228cf..065835a 100644
--- a/.sdlc/state.yaml
+++ b/.sdlc/state.yaml
@@ -6,9 +6,9 @@ active_work:
         - slug: user-preferences
           phase: specified
 blocked: []
-last_updated: 2026-02-09T03:10:34.140689539Z
-last_action: TRANSITION
-last_actor: cli
+last_updated: 2026-02-09T03:15:39.312768387Z
+last_action: APPROVE_ARTIFACT
+last_actor: user
 history:
     - timestamp: 2026-02-09T03:07:55.541429198Z
       action: CREATE_FEATURE
@@ -25,3 +25,8 @@ history:
       feature: user-preferences
       actor: cli
       result: success
+    - timestamp: 2026-02-09T03:15:39.312767886Z
+      action: APPROVE_ARTIFACT
+      feature: user-preferences
+      actor: user
+      result: success