diff --git a/src/app/admin/designs/[id]/edit/page.tsx b/src/app/admin/designs/[id]/edit/page.tsx
index 13b068f..5fe2cd6 100644
--- a/src/app/admin/designs/[id]/edit/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/admin/designs/[id]/edit/page.tsx
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ export default function EditDesignPage({ params }: { params: { id: string } }) {
         </div>
 
         {/* Full Design Canvas */}
-        <DesignCanvas product={design.product} />
+        <DesignCanvas product={design.product} isAdminEditing={true} />
       </div>
     </div>
   );
diff --git a/src/components/DesignCanvas.tsx b/src/components/DesignCanvas.tsx
index 3632957..7b32844 100644
--- a/src/components/DesignCanvas.tsx
+++ b/src/components/DesignCanvas.tsx
@@ -487,7 +487,7 @@ function generateCurvePath(type: string, radius: number, reverse: boolean = fals
   return path;
 }
 
-export default function DesignCanvas({ product }: { product: ProductDTO }) {
+export default function DesignCanvas({ product, isAdminEditing = false }: { product: ProductDTO; isAdminEditing?: boolean }) {
   const [color, setColor] = useState(product.colors[0]);
   const [size, setSize] = useState<string | null>(product.sizes[0] ?? null);
   const [designWidthCm, setDesignWidthCm] = useState<number | null>(null);
@@ -1513,9 +1513,9 @@ export default function DesignCanvas({ product }: { product: ProductDTO }) {
             ) : (
               <button
                 onClick={handleSubmitForApproval}
-                disabled={elementsFront.length === 0 && elementsBack.length === 0 || submittingForApproval || approvalStatus === 'PENDING'}
+                disabled={isAdminEditing || elementsFront.length === 0 && elementsBack.length === 0 || submittingForApproval || approvalStatus === 'PENDING'}
                 className={`flex-1 px-6 py-3 text-sm font-medium transition-colors ${
-                  elementsFront.length === 0 && elementsBack.length === 0 || submittingForApproval || approvalStatus === 'PENDING'
+                  isAdminEditing || elementsFront.length === 0 && elementsBack.length === 0 || submittingForApproval || approvalStatus === 'PENDING'
                     ? 'bg-muted text-muted/50 cursor-not-allowed'
                     : 'bg-clay text-paper hover:bg-clay-dark'
                 }`}