Through human-centred design, we create products that are not only safe to operate and effective under real-world conditions but also desirable and easy to use.
Human-centred design forms an integral part of our work across the full market spectrum, delivering both regulatory compliance and commercial success.
Human-centred design forms an integral part of our work across the full market spectrum, delivering both regulatory compliance and commercial success.
Inspiring innovation
It’s vital to understand the user and how they will relate to a product. Frequently, these insights provide the inspiration required to create truly innovative products.
Conducting research early in the development process yields valuable insight at a point where meaningful changes can be implemented in the design. In addition to stakeholder interviews and needs assessments, we conduct ethnographic research worldwide to uncover the tacit (unspoken) and latent (unfathomed) needs of users.
Integrating user experience development
Our human factors experts work alongside our mechanical, software, electrical and design engineers from the outset, ensuring that the needs of users and other stakeholders are considered throughout the development process.
Our integrated, human-centric approach – which considers the user, the technology and the environment as a single system – means that the end-use experience is not compromised as trade-offs are assessed and key decisions made.
Ensuring regulatory success
We partner with our clients to help them understand FDA expectations and provide guidance on human factors in medical device development.
We have a wealth of experience in supporting regulatory submissions – including use-related risk management, formative and validation assessments – ensuring that later stage requirements and expectations are considered from the outset.
Experience
Our human factors experience comes into play throughout the development process, from discovering stakeholder needs, defining product requirements and generating concepts to guiding product design and eventual assessment and validation.
Our human-centred design teams are based in both the US and UK, consisting of human factors engineers, cognitive psychologists, biomedical engineers and environmental designers.
Tech, tools & facilities
Co-creation & co-working space
We are highly collaborative in our approach and provide dedicated co-creation facilities where we can join forces with our client teams to address the task in hand. Creative spaces throughout our offices provide a blank canvas for ad-hoc brainstorming sessions and planned workshops, inspiring our designers in their quest to develop impactful, unique and meaningful user experiences.
Food & beverage lab
Specifically set up to meet the unique requirements of developing food- and beverage-safe systems, our dedicated lab means we have the necessary procedures and equipment in place to design and test new products in-house. Quantitative and scientific testing is fundamental to our science-led innovation approach, but ultimately taste tests are always needed. This is our only lab where the consumption of food and drink is not just allowed but essential!
Surgical innovation suite
Equipped to simulate clinical, home and office environments, this facility allows us to test concepts, evaluate prototypes and analyse workflows in a safe and confidential setting. It’s an invaluable tool for understanding and communicating the contextual implications of design decisions, while the ability to conduct quick-turnaround usability evaluations means we can efficiently progress design and development.
UX design studios
Equipped with whiteboards, marker pens and acres of Post-it notes, we use these spaces to aggregate research data, user stories and create design concepts and keep them visible for the duration of the project. Each design studio allows our project teams to develop ideas and collaborate on designs whilst preserving client confidentiality.
Case studies
accesso smart wearable
For their latest wearable device, accesso wanted to take their LoQueue virtual queuing solution to the next level, adding greater interactivity and creating new ways to connect with park guests during their visit.
Clearbridge BioMedics liquid biopsy enrichment
Second-generation liquid biopsy instrument for the automated enrichment of circulating tumour cells
Axsis medical robotic concept
AXSIS demonstrates the possibilities of intelligent robotic design – robots that are dramatically smaller yet significantly more capable than existing surgical equipment.
News & insights
Opinion
Diary of a developer (part 2) – user stories
As technology consultants, we know all too well that it takes a lot to turn an innovative idea into an engaging product – or, in this case, demo! – that meets the varied needs of its users. My colleague Jo Davies recently blogged...
- Human factors
- Machine learning & AI
Opinion
Cashier-less retail - system design considerations
A growing trend in cashier-less retailing needs a careful balance of the user experience, malicious intent, operator considerations and sensor intelligence. Amazon’s “GO” cashier-less retail store is now open...
- Human factors
- Sensing
- User Experience (UX)
Press release
Design awards roll in
Cambridge Consultants’ world-leading design expertise recognised with two iF DESIGN AWARDS.
Product design and development firm Cambridge Consultants was a winner at this year’s iF DESIGN AWARDS...
Opinion
Latte Levy – the good, the bad and the indifferent
Coffee cups have become a symbol of waste and recycling challenges, even though they actually represent a tiny fraction of takeaway beverage containers put on the market.
- Dispense
- Human factors
- Service design
- User Experience (UX)
Events
Event
SMi Asthma & COPD 2018
SMi’s 14th annual Asthma & COPD conference aims to improve health outcomes and revolutionise clinical trials with real world studies. Suresh Gupta, Head of Human Factors and Usability Engineering, will be delivering...
Event
SMi Pre-Filled Syringes East Coast 2018
SMi's 5th annual conference and exhibition provides a unique insight in the areas of regulation, manufacturing, emerging trends and innovative solutions to the challenges facing the prefilled industry, helping attendees to...
Event
HFES 2018 International Symposium
The 'Human Factors and Ergonomics in Health Care' symposium offers cutting-edge presentations, materials and workshops on emerging issues in health-care human factors and the challenges facing us in the near...
We can help you achieve the impossible