Yes, we can work to a fixed launch deadline provided the scope is agreed in writing beforehand and all dependencies arrive on time. If an immovable date cannot be achieved without compromising technical stability or production quality, we will decline the schedule before any deposit is paid.
Assessing viability and agreeing terms
When you approach the studio with a hard launch date, your brief is assessed by Operations & Client Services in coordination with our Creative and Technology departments. We evaluate whether the required deliverables can realistically be produced, reviewed, and deployed within our operating calendar.
Our studio operates Monday to Thursday, from 09:00 to 17:00 GMT. We do not work on Fridays or weekends, and production schedules do not rely on out-of-hours labour to hit compressed targets. If your project requires bespoke scoping, we provide a formal quote within 48 hours of receiving a complete brief. Standard package work is detailed directly on our packages page.
Once a deadline is confirmed feasible, it is locked into the project proposal. If you were introduced via our ambassador programme, your confirmed discount (typically 10% to 30%) will be applied directly to this quote, while the referrer receives their commission.
Client commitments and prerequisites
Fixed-deadline projects cannot absorb operational delays. To hold an immovable date, the client must furnish all required assets, credentials, and approvals at agreed intervals. Before production commences, you must supply:
- Complete copy, brand assets, and licensed media.
- Technical credentials, domain access, DNS records, or staging environment permissions required by Technology.
- A single nominated point of contact empowered to give definitive approvals without internal delays.
- Written sign-off on the scope of work, acknowledging that mid-sprint revisions will invalidate the target date.
Any lag in supplying these materials directly compresses the remaining delivery window.
The launch production sequence
Deadlines are managed through four operational stages:
1. Scope and Schedule Lock: Operations & Client Services maps the milestones between the deposit date and the launch date, calculating exact windows for draft delivery and client revisions. 2. Asset and Access Verification: Technology and Creative verify that all provided files, credentials, and third-party services are functional before production begins. 3. Sprint Execution and Review: Deliverables are built within standard studio hours (Monday to Thursday). Review drafts are sent with explicit feedback cut-offs. 4. Pre-Launch QA and Deployment: Final quality checks are carried out across all deliverables. The nominated stakeholder provides written sign-off, and Technology executes the deployment.
Progress queries and milestone updates are managed via the Ask Xylo chat on this portal, keeping communication centralised and traceable.
Failure modes and schedule slippage
A fixed deadline relies entirely on reciprocal turnaround. The two most common failure modes are delayed client feedback and late asset provision.
If review feedback arrives past the agreed cut-off, or if core assets are delivered late, the launch date shifts automatically. Production does not compress into non-working days (Friday through Sunday) to absorb client-side delays. If an external blocker causes a missed public launch, the project will be rescheduled to the studio's next available operational slot.
Deposits are non-refundable once your production slot is held. Before work begins, sums not yet earned are refunded pro rata; after work begins, completed work and booked time are charged. Defects are fixed free of charge within the acceptance window. The full terms are on the Refund Policy page of the main site. A missed deadline caused by upstream asset delays, delayed stakeholder approvals, or changes in scope does not constitute grounds for a refund.
Launch readiness checklist
Before confirming a time-critical project with the studio, verify the following:
- The proposed launch date accounts for studio operating hours (Monday to Thursday, 09:00-17:00 GMT).
- All brand assets, copy, and access credentials are ready for immediate handoff.
- A single internal stakeholder has been appointed to review drafts within 24 hours of submission.
- The project brief is final, with no planned scope additions once development starts.
- Your timeline includes sufficient allowance for final user testing, staging, and DNS propagation.