The last two weeks of a project are easy to rush. Everyone is tired and the launch date is close. But a messy handover can undo months of good work. So we use the same checklist every time.
Files
Every file is named clearly and stored in one shared folder. No “final-v7-really-final”. We include working files, exports for every channel and a short readme that explains what is where.
Logo and brand files in every format you need.
Design files with clean layers and shared components.
Fonts and licences, or links to buy them.
Image and video assets with usage rights noted.
Knowledge
Files are not enough. Your team needs to know how to use them. We record short walkthrough videos and run one live training session. For websites, that includes editing pages and adding CMS items.
We also write a one-page guide with the main rules: how to use the logo, which colours go together and what not to do.
Access
We transfer every account, domain and tool to your team before we leave. Nothing should depend on a KORT login after handover. We check this item twice.
Support
Every project includes two weeks of support after launch. Small fixes and questions are part of the deal. It gives your team time to find the gaps that only show up with real use.
The final test
Our last step is simple. We ask someone on your team who was not part of the project to make one small change on their own. If they can do it without calling us, the handover is done.
Why we care so much
We also schedule a short check-in one month after launch. It is a chance to see how the system is used in real life, and to fix the small things that only appear once a team starts working with it every day.
Most of those fixes take less than an hour. Catching them early stops them from turning into habits.
A design system that only its designers understand will slowly fall apart. Every shortcut taken by a busy team adds a little drift, until the brand no longer looks like itself.
A good handover slows that drift down. It turns the work from something we made into something your team owns. That is the point where a project stops being ours and starts being yours.
Feel free to copy this checklist. Add your own items, print it and pin it next to your launch plan. The best handovers are boring, and boring is exactly what you want on launch day.
Mateo Brandt
Design Director
Mateo leads design across brand and digital. He cares about type, grids and the last ten percent of a project.
