An archived project can be reopened by submitting a reactivation request through the Ask Xylo chat on this portal.
Operations & Client Services will retrieve your archived files, evaluate any structural or technical dependencies, and issue an updated schedule and quote before production resumes.
What project archiving means
When a project completes or is formally placed on hold, it transitions to archived status. In our workflow, this means active production sprints are closed, and repositories, design files, and production assets are shifted into secure, read-only storage.
Development, testing, or staging servers maintained by Technology are typically suspended or spun down to prevent unnecessary resource consumption. Creative and technical personnel assigned to the work are returned to the general scheduling pool. Reopening a project is therefore an active technical and operational process rather than a simple status toggle; it requires file retrieval, dependency auditing, workspace re-provisioning, and queue scheduling.
The reactivation sequence
Bringing an archived project back into an active sprint follows a structured operational path:
1. Submit the request: Open a conversation in the Ask Xylo chat. State the previous project title, the historical deliverables, and your intention to restart work. 2. Initial operational assessment: Operations & Client Services processes your ticket. Our first reply target is within 24 hours during working hours (Monday to Thursday, 09:00–17:00 GMT). 3. Archive retrieval and scoping: Depending on the nature of the project, Operations & Client Services assigns the audit to Creative, Technology, or both. The team unarchives the source assets, checks the codebase or design system against current standards, and reviews your new requirements. 4. Commercial agreement: If the intended work matches our standard service tiers, you will be directed to the packages page. For customised work, we issue a bespoke quote within 48 hours of receiving a complete, unambiguous brief. If you joined us through our ambassador programme, any eligible referral discount of 10–30% is verified and applied directly in writing on this quote. 5. Payment and scheduling: Work is scheduled into active production once commercial terms are agreed and payment is processed. 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.
What you must supply
To allow Operations & Client Services to scope the reactivation accurately, prepare the following items before submitting your ticket:
- Project reference details: Your previous project name, original scope summary, or related invoice references.
- A clear update brief: A specific account of what needs to change, what must be added, and what should remain intact. If you are fixing issues or modernising an old deliverable, document the desired end state clearly.
- Third-party credentials and access: Verification that external accounts (hosting panels, domain registrars, content management systems, code hosting, or analytics platforms) are active and accessible. If logins have changed since the project was archived, supply updated credentials immediately.
- New media assets: Any revised brand guidelines, vector artwork, or approved copy intended for ingestion by Creative.
Technical hurdles and edge cases
Projects that have spent substantial time in the archive may encounter operational friction during reactivation:
- Software and dependency deprecation: Codebases maintained by Technology may rely on third-party libraries, APIs, runtime engines, or plugins that have been deprecated or patched since the project closed. Remedying technical debt or breaking changes must be completed before new features can be implemented, and this engineering time will be accounted for in the quote.
- Asset licensing renewals: Font licences, stock media rights, or external software seats used during the initial delivery may have lapsed. These must be renewed or re-licensed before Creative can export new materials.
- Queue alignment: The studio operates strictly Monday to Thursday, 09:00–17:00 GMT. Reopened work enters the production queue alongside ongoing active commitments rather than reclaiming its previous historical priority.
Reopening checklist
Before opening your ticket in Ask Xylo, verify the following:
- [ ] Locate your previous project name and original sign-off details.
- [ ] Prepare a comprehensive, written brief detailing the exact scope of the new work.
- [ ] Confirm third-party logins, hosting services, and technical permissions are valid.
- [ ] Check the packages page for standard pricing, or prepare your requirements for a bespoke quote.
- [ ] Ensure decision-makers are available to approve quotes and settle non-refundable deposits during standard studio hours.