I work with real-life Bennys.

Benny is a character from the 2014 LEGO movie. He is a Master Builder of spaceships:

“I felt so seen,” is the response to Benny from many of my NASA aerospace systems engineer co-workers.

Yep, Benny and the rocket engineers I work with share an addictive enthusiasm for building spacecrafts.

Benny can build a fully operational spaceship in seconds:

But unlike Benny, the NASA space nerds spend years meticulously working in spreadsheets before ever building a spacecraft.

The reality is this: NASA systems engineers do an insane amount of calculations in multiple spreadsheets for a really, really long time before the build of a spacecraft begins. And because NASA nerdonauts have a long history of using spreadsheets for space missions, it’s the tool they continue to use today. They love a spreadsheet:

As a designer, I work closely with my team on a Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) application as a reliable and robust substitute for spreadsheets. Our MBSE tool allows users to collaboratively explore spacecraft options within a couple of hours.

And because we are able to evaluate multiple concepts with MBSE quickly, we save time and tax payer dollars! We can also determine if the concept is likely to succeed.

Since NASA systems engineers have been using spreadsheets for decades, getting them to switch to this new paradigm is the biggest challenge. To them, it’s a non-intuitive tool. It involves shifting to a different mental model. It means they have to LEGO of spreadsheets and embrace a model-based framework.

The ultimate goal is to have our NASA pocket-protector elite out of their antiquated spreadsheets and collaborating in our MBSE tool.

To get them on board, I use Benny and LEGOs as the North Star. With MBSE, systems engineers can work efficiently, like Benny:

It’s also a bonus that my nerdy colleagues already like building with LEGOs:

The blocks in our MBSE application represent subsystems or domains that link together to make a spacecraft. In 2D representation, the 3D LEGO bricks Benny uses to assemble his spacecraft look very similar to the MBSE blocks. See the similarities:

Since our MBSE tool uses 2D model blocks, it’s it’s not far from a 3D model. By utilizing AR or VR technology, these 2D blocks can be 3D blocks. Just. Like. LEGOs.

One day, building a spacecraft would be easy as putting 3D LEGO bricks together. And everyone, including systems engineers, can all be Master Builders. Just. Like. Benny.

My rocket scientist co-workers are all like Benny: they just want to build spaceships. And one day they will be able to click 3D blocks together to assemble a spacecraft. But the first step is getting them into a block-based mindset. And out of spreadsheets.