Has anyone else experienced a situation where changes made by a client in the editor/CMS also affect the designer in Webflow? Is there a solution to this issue or any feedback from Webflow?

Published on
September 22, 2023

Has anyone else experienced a situation where changes made by a client in the editor/CMS also affect the designer in Webflow? Is there a solution to this issue or any feedback from Webflow?

Yes, it is possible for changes made by a client in the editor/CMS to affect the designer in Webflow. This can happen when the client has access to edit content on the live site using the CMS editor, and their changes might impact the structure, layout, or style of the website. Here are a few scenarios where this issue can occur:

  1. Content restructuring: If the client changes the content hierarchy or reorders elements in the CMS, the designer might find that the layout does not accommodate the new structure, resulting in unexpected design inconsistencies.

  2. Styling conflicts: In some cases, the client might modify the styling of individual elements, such as font size, color, or padding, which may conflict with the predefined styles set by the designer. This can lead to a mismatched visual appearance of the website.

  3. Missing or incorrect data: Clients might accidentally delete or modify important data fields in the CMS, causing elements that rely on that data to break or display incorrect information. This can impact the overall functionality and user experience of the website.

To address this issue, Webflow provides a few solutions and best practices:

  • Communication: It is crucial to establish clear communication with the client and educate them about the potential impact of their changes on the design. Encourage them to reach out before making substantial modifications, allowing the designer to assess the potential consequences.

  • Training and guidelines: Offer training and document guidelines on how to use the CMS editor correctly. Provide clear instructions on what elements they are allowed to modify and what changes might affect the design negatively.

  • Design protection: In some cases, it might be necessary to lock certain elements or restrict editing permissions for specific sections of the website. Webflow provides options to control client access and permissions through its Editor and Team features. By carefully assigning permissions, you can limit the potential for unwanted changes that affect the designer's work.

  • Revision history: Webflow keeps a revision history of every change made to a site, which allows you to roll back to a previous version if needed. This can be helpful if a client makes unintended changes that negatively impact the design, allowing you to restore the website to its previous state.

Webflow continuously evolves its platform based on user feedback, and they have a Community Forum where users can share their experiences and provide feedback. If you encounter issues with changes made by a client affecting the designer in Webflow, it can be beneficial to reach out to the Webflow Community or support team for further assistance or to provide feedback on this specific challenge.

Additional Questions:

  1. How can I prevent clients from making changes that affect the design in Webflow?
  2. Are there any best practices for managing client access in Webflow's CMS editor?
  3. How can I revert the changes made by a client in Webflow?