Descope: How We Helped Build a Website That Works and Grows With Them

Two years ago, Descope reached out to us to help build their website from the ground up. They needed something that worked well, was easy to manage, and could grow with them over time. We delivered a site that did all that and more, and when it came time for a redesign to reflect their new branding, they came back. Here’s how we worked together to make it happen.

Why Descope Reached Out to Us

Descope wanted a site that didn’t require constant developer involvement. They wanted to manage pages themselves, move fast, and experiment freely. At the same time, it had to handle traffic without hiccups and be easy to build on for the future. That’s why we recommended Contentful, paired with Next.js and Vercel.

Building a Website That Works for Descope

When we built Descope’s first site, our goal wasn’t just to make it look good—it had to work for them in every sense. Descope needed a site that their team could manage easily, without waiting on developers for every small update. So, we designed a system that let them add, rearrange, and update pages like building with “Lego blocks.”

To make things even better, we didn’t just build for today—we thought about the long-term impact. The website was built to save time, reduce maintenance headaches, and deliver cost efficiencies over the years. For Descope’s team, this meant more time spent focusing on big-picture ideas rather than troubleshooting or reworking the site.

Content management also became faster and simpler for their marketing team. Updates that once might have taken days or weeks could now be done in minutes, allowing them to stay agile and experiment with new ideas.

With this system in place, Descope wasn’t just managing their website—they were empowered to innovate and grow without being held back by technical limitations.

How Contentful Empowered Descope’s Growth and Agility

When building Descope’s website, we recommended Contentful as the CMS due to its scalability, performance, and ease of use. It wasn’t just about selecting a platform—it was about creating a foundation that would enable Descope to move fast, experiment freely, and scale effortlessly.

Why Contentful Was the Right Choice

As a mature, extensible headless CMS, Contentful offered the flexibility Descope needed while ensuring future-proofing. Its widespread adoption in the industry also provided peace of mind, as transitioning to another platform down the line—if ever necessary—would be simplified.

Tailored Implementation for Maximum Efficiency

We designed a robust content model tailored to Descope’s workflows, ensuring that both marketers and developers could work seamlessly. Features like inline comments, modular content blocks, and clear documentation made onboarding effortless—even for team members new to Contentful.

For developers, the platform’s environment management tools and CLI capabilities enabled smooth content management during both the initial build and the later redesign. We used these tools to maintain parallel versions of the site, ensuring a seamless transition to the redesigned version without downtime or disruption.

We also helped Descope integrate several tools into their site like a meeting calendar scheduler, HubSpot forms, and their own customer authentication platform–all executed as no-code toggles or fields in Contentful for a frictionless admin experience.

Empowering Descope’s Marketing Team

Contentful’s flexibility meant Descope’s marketing team could manage content independently, spin up new pages, and test ideas in real time—dramatically reducing the time-to-market for new initiatives.

By combining Contentful’s capabilities with a thoughtful implementation strategy, we gave Descope a CMS that empowers innovation, supports their growth, and saves time and effort across the board.

The Redesign: A Fresh Look for a Growing Brand

Two years later, Descope came back to us. They had a new brand identity and wanted the website to match it. This time, the goal was to make sure their site not only worked well but also reflected who they were as a company.

We worked closely with Descope to understand their vision and translated that into a site that felt modern, bold, and polished. From the way pages looked on mobile to how animations added a touch of personality, every detail was designed to bring their new brand to life.

This redesign wasn’t just about aesthetics. The new site embodied Descope’s innovative identity while offering the same ease of use that their team had come to rely on. It became a platform that reflected not just what Descope does, but who they are.

Making Design Work Harder: The Value of a Design System

Descope Design System

Companies often question the value of investing time and resources into a design system. It can feel like a big upfront effort, especially when there are tight deadlines or other pressing priorities. But once teams start using it, the benefits become impossible to ignore.

Design systems are more than just a way to standardize visuals—they streamline workflows, reduce inconsistencies, and give teams the tools to create faster without compromising quality. For Descope, this meant complete control over layouts, themes, and components, letting their team experiment and grow without extra design or development work.

Seamless Content Migration

One of the biggest concerns companies have when it comes to a website redesign or replatforming is the potential disruption to their business. Content migration can feel like a daunting task, with fears of downtime, data loss, or SEO impacts looming large. Descope was no exception—they were understandably cautious about making changes to a site that was already active and visited by tens of thousands of users each month.

We approached the content migration process with care, ensuring that every piece of data, every URL, and every structure stayed intact. SEO was preserved, data was seamlessly transitioned, and the site was prepared to go live without interruptions.

This meticulous approach meant that when the redesigned site launched, it was smooth sailing for both Descope’s team and their users. Their business carried on as usual, with no disruptions to their day-to-day operations, allowing them to focus on what they do best.

What Changed With the Redesign

Once the new site launched, the feedback was immediate—and overwhelmingly positive. Customers noticed, social media lit up with praise, and even the metrics told a clear story: users were staying on the site longer and exploring more.

The redesign didn’t just stop at the website. The updated branding gave Descope the confidence to roll out their new look across events, marketing campaigns, and more. They stopped second-guessing their visuals and started showing them off.

Final Thoughts From Descope

A Look Ahead

Working with Descope has been a rewarding experience from start to finish. Their trust in us, combined with their openness to new ideas, made it possible to create something that not only meets their needs today but can also grow with them in the future. Whether you’re starting from scratch or rethinking your digital presence, we’d love to help you build something that works just as well for you.