Agreeing on what "done" means helps teams avoid scope creep, inconsistency, and endless rework. By defining clear, achievable criteria early, everyone knows when a component, pattern, or token is ready for release, validation, or adoption. This checklist should be practical, shared across disciplines, and adaptable as your system evolves.
How to
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Gather perspectives Bring together designers, engineers, QA, content, and product reps. Ask what "done" should mean in practice, focusing on usable rather than perfect.
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List essential checks Identify the minimum set of requirements such as visual accuracy, responsive behaviour, accessibility, documentation, and token alignment. Keep it realistic and achievable.
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Add validation gates Define which checks must be complete before handoff or release, such as a component being built, reviewed, tested, and documented.
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Review with product teams Share your checklist with product teams to ensure it fits real delivery timelines and avoids unnecessary over-engineering. Adjust for what's genuinely needed to ship with confidence.
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Document and apply Publish your criteria and create any supporting templates on your Guidance Setup. Make them easy to reference, and revisit them during health checks.