A method for enhancing the reliability of contacting the conductive layers in a laminated electrochromic device structure is disclosed (FIG. 7). The laminate structure (10), typically fabricated in the form of a sheet, comprises: two polymer substrates (21, 22); two conductive layers (31, 32)—one arranged on each substate—and facing each other; an electrochromic layer (41) and a counter-electrode layer (42) each arranged on different conductive layers; and an electrolyte layer (50) interposed between the electrochromic layer and the counter-electrode layer. Either an incision with an undulating cutting depth or perforations of predetermined sizes, depths (through at least most of one substrate) and separations are prefabricated along a desired tear line in the structure (step 220)—once the final shape of the device is defined—to facilitate the tearing away of the one polymer substrate to reveal the conductive layer to be contacted on the underlying substrate.