Cambridge Consultants and AstraZeneca win coveted iF Design Award for innovative paediatric nebulizer
Cambridge Consultants, the deep tech powerhouse of Capgemini, has been awarded in the Professional Product Concept category at the 2025 iF Design Awards – a prestigious global recognition often referred to as the ‘Oscars of the design industry’.
Cambridge Consultants, the deep tech powerhouse of Capgemini, has been awarded in the Professional Product Concept category at the 2025 iF Design Awards – a prestigious global recognition often referred to as the ‘Oscars of the design industry’.
The winning concept, Maru, developed in partnership with AstraZeneca, transforms the nebulizer experience for child asthma patients and their parents by combining advanced technology with major usability improvements. The child-friendly design features an interactive interface that engages children during treatment sessions and promotes correct inhalation techniques.
The Maru ecosystem supports parents with clear, intuitive guidance for independent use at home. By enhancing child cooperation and reassuring caregivers, Maru creates a more enjoyable and effective treatment experience for families.
Dan Deaton, Head of Inhaled Product Development, AstraZeneca, said: “This recognition highlights AstraZeneca’s commitment to science and innovation through collaboration. It emphasises our focus on transforming patient outcomes through novel technologies and therapies.
“The Maru concept embodies a patient-first design approach – addressing not only key challenges faced by both patients and caregivers but also enhancing their overall care experience. We will continue to evaluate opportunities for new approaches like Maru on our mission to transform respiratory care for our patients around the world.”
Winning the award is a moment of immense pride for the Cambridge Consultants team, whose passion for design with purpose drives their innovation.
“We’re honoured to be recognised on this global stage. This award is a powerful showcase of our ability to create visionary, patient-centric designs – grounded in what is feasible – to support AstraZeneca’s mission.”
A partnership anchored in patient-centric design
The Maru project is just one example in a long list of groundbreaking initiatives delivered by Cambridge Consultants and AstraZeneca.
In this case, AstraZeneca challenged Cambridge Consultants to explore both the patient and commercial benefits of a next-generation paediatric nebulizer – essential devices that deliver liquid medicine into the lungs via a face mask. For children and their parents, administering any medicine – especially ones needing long treatment sessions – can be a highly stressful experience, and these challenges often lead to incomplete treatments and reduced effectiveness.
Over an intensive eight-week design sprint, Cambridge Consultants’ multidisciplinary team reimagined the nebulizer experience. They introduced a concept design that significantly improves usability, featuring a gamified interface to keep children engaged during the 20-minute treatment, while also providing real-time guidance and reassurance for parents. It’s a holistic solution that supports the entire family.
“Maru is a true reflection of the strong partnership we’ve built with AstraZeneca,” said Lai. “Together, we inspire and challenge each other to explore bold new possibilities that lead to better patient experiences.
“Cambridge Consultants has been a trusted technology partner for AstraZeneca for many years. Our partnership is built on a shared commitment to innovation and a deep understanding of patient needs.
Working with Cambridge Consultants on Maru has been another meaningful and energizing partnership. Their patient-centered approach and design methodologies helped us explore patient solutions from multiple perspectives. By combining our scientific expertise through projects like Maru, we’re efficiently innovating to address real patient needs.”
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Lai Chiu Tang leads a design team focused on medical technology innovations at Cambridge Consultants. With over 18 years of experience in medical device development, Lai champions design and innovation to improve the user experience of products. Her expertise spans industrial design, UI, packaging and information design.
