WebsiteDesignOutsource.com blog
Build an Approval Path for Outsourced Website Design
A staged approval path keeps website design decisions clear from page purpose through the built experience.
Approval is easier when the team knows which question it is answering. Separate the page purpose, content, visual treatment, and built behavior so a late comment does not reopen every earlier decision.
Approve in useful stages
First confirm audience and page job. Next confirm content order, links, and assets. Then review the visual system. Finish with the real route, responsive states, and required interactions. Record each decision before the next stage.
Give every stage an owner
Input can come from many people, but one person should settle conflicting comments. Name that person in the brief and record when the decision was made.
Keep follow-up visible
Separate accepted work from future ideas and unresolved dependencies. A short follow-up list prevents a new request from being mistaken for a missed correction.
Further reading
Source
Nielsen Norman Group, design critiques
Frequently asked questions
Can visual approval happen before content approval?
It can be exploratory, but mark the content as provisional. Final hierarchy depends on the words visitors must read.
What closes the path?
An accepted route, named owner, recorded follow-up, and evidence that required states were reviewed.