A senior studio for systems that matter.
Schemawright was founded on a simple idea: most custom software fails because nobody mapped the schema before writing code. We do that mapping first, design the system around it, and then build.
Built by senior engineers and designers.
Schemawright is a senior-led software architecture and design studio. Every engagement is run by an operator who has shipped production systems at scale — no junior pipelines, no resold capacity, no account managers between you and the people doing the work.
We bring in additional senior collaborators per engagement based on the shape of the work — designers, engineers, architects — chosen for fit, not utilisation targets.
Aotearoa-based. Globally distributed.
Schemawright is headquartered in Aotearoa New Zealand and works with teams in NZ, Australia, Singapore and the United Kingdom. Most work runs remote with structured sync windows; sensitive engagements get on-site time in the client city.
We deliberately concentrate on four markets that share working hours and regulatory rhythms with Aotearoa — same code, same architects, no hand-offs across timezones.
Five things we will say out loud on the first call.
Schemas come before code.
Most failed custom builds we have seen had no real schema — just an opinion. We start with the actual structure of your problem.
Frameworks are not the project.
If the smallest stack that solves the problem is plain HTML and a queue, we will say so. We do not pick the framework, then look for a project.
Design and engineering happen together.
Interface design that has not met the schema is decoration. Engineering that has not met the user is plumbing. We do both.
Handover is the deliverable.
You should be able to run, extend and replace us from day one. Documentation, ADRs and runbooks are not optional add-ons.
AI is part of the stack, not a service line.
LLM features, agents and MCP integrations are how we build now — they appear in everything we ship, not as a separate engagement.
Want to talk?
First call is free. 30 minutes. You will leave with at least one architectural answer worth more than the call.