RaceRocks · Babcock
Navigating Deep Waters: Co-Creating a Submarine Scheduling Software Prototype
RaceRocks, a top 75 Canadian defence company, brought Forge in to collaborate with Babcock, which provides engineering support for Canadian military, civil and commercial marine and aviation organizations. The project: design an interactive Class Plan visualization tool that would allow users to modify key schedules, resources, and technical planning data to quickly visualize the impact of changes on submarine operations.
Impact & Outcomes
Successfully delivered an interactive UI prototype for Babcock's submarine scheduling software. Elevated overall design and usability of a complex, high-stakes planning tool. Established a user-first foundation that Babcock will carry into future projects. Demonstrated that rigorous UX methodology translates directly into defence-adjacent software contexts.
Challenge
Designing without solid requirements is one of the hardest problems in UX. Forge entered a project of exceptional scope - a complex defence client, a first-of-kind scheduling visualization tool, and requirements that emerged and shifted throughout delivery. The software needed to support high-stakes decision-making by users who understood submarines but not necessarily software, while satisfying the technical and compliance expectations of a major defence contractor.
Approach
Forge launched with deep stakeholder engagement to map the project's scope and establish shared goals before any design work began. Working closely with RaceRocks' Software Development Lead and CEO, Forge helped align the project around outcomes rather than feature lists, then designed to those outcomes iteratively. Requirements were established as they emerged - a disciplined approach that kept the project moving without locking in premature decisions. Co-creation sessions with Babcock ensured the design reflected real operational needs.
Delivery
An interactive user interface prototype for Babcock's submarine scheduling software, enabling users to modify schedules, resources, and planning data and immediately visualize the impact of those changes. Delivered on time with a user-first foundation designed to support Babcock's future development work.
