"AI and robotics are huge topics in medical design"
"Designing for both patient and the surgeon is the challenge and the art." Designer and iF Juror Sebastian Maier on why manufacturers should spend more on sustainability and the demands and rewards of designing MRI scanners.
You're serving as a juror at the iF DESIGN AWARD again this year. What innovations are you seeing in the medicine/health category submissions?
Artificial intelligence is a huge topic, as is robotics. Particularly in large medical equipment, robotics has become fully integrated. The technology has advanced enough to handle things like controlling robotic arms or enabling telemedicine applications where the doctor operates remotely via a robot.
What about sustainability in medical design?
Sustainability is definitely on the agenda. Years ago, when I was on design juries, including the iF DESIGN AWARD jury, the focus was on form factor, color, and material. We always asked the same questions: "Is it well-designed? Does it look good? Is it ergonomic?" But now, sustainability is impossible to ignore—even in jury evaluations. It’s part of the UN agenda, and that’s changing the work of designers, especially product designers. In medical technology, the numbers are different. Production volumes are low, and acquisition costs are high, so devices like MRI scanners are built to last 20 years or more. Sustainability in this context isn’t just about recyclable plastics. The key questions are: how is the device manufactured, and how much energy does that process consume? Take an MRI scanner—it’s built over months, in multiple shifts. Even the electricity required to light the workspace during production is significant.
How can medical design become even more sustainable?
The first question is: what energy source is used during production? Right now, manufacturers rely on electricity from conventional sources, but there’s already talk of connecting solar farms or wind turbines to power production facilities. The challenge is that even with the budget, this takes time: permits, approvals, the entire process.
That sounds like something designers can’t solve alone.
True. We need new energy and heating concepts implemented on a municipal level and by energy providers. Changing these systems is an enormous undertaking. As designers, though, we still control material selection. That means more research, attending material fairs, and seeking alternatives. Designers are very familiar with different medical-grade plastics and their manufacturers, and every material we use must meet strict regulatory approvals. For large devices, we’ve been working for years to make them look less clinical - more like furniture, with elegant wood veneers. This has psychological benefits: patients feel more comfortable. Plus, wood is a renewable resource and carbonneutral. It lets us address multiple needs simultaneously: making products friendly and inviting with natural, authentic materials while also improving sustainability metrics. Designers carry a lot of responsibility, and it’s growing. In the future, we’ll need to examine the entire value chain—from raw materials to production to energy use - and develop holistic solutions.
Pictures below: Cubis® II Scale, iF DESIGN AWARD 2021 (left) and Mline® mechanical Pipettes (all Sartorius).
This sounds expensive for manufacturers. How do you convince clients to invest in more sustainable products in times like these?
The main argument for sustainability is market differentiation. Medical technology is known for devices that all use the same plastic from the same manufacturer, in the same shade of white. It used to be pure white; now it’s traffic white.
If I can use a different, sustainable material—maybe even a natural one—I can set myself apart in the market. Differentiation is a powerful tool to justify the additional costs to customers. Hospitals and clinics are service providers too, and they’re competing with each other.
Who is the actual "customer" in medical design?
That’s a great question. Traditionally, it’s the chief physician who operates the equipment. But nurses and cleaning staff also interact with these devices. And on the other side, of course, there’s the patient. That’s the art of medical design: on one side, you’re designing for an academic at the top of their field. The doctor wants precise, sharp edges—everything clear and clinical. Ideally, cold colors and metallic finishes. On the other side, you need something soft and friendly, with rounded edges and warm colors. It’s almost playful. I've always said that everything I designed had a smile on it.
About Sebastian Maier
Sebastian Maier is one of the leading minds in German medical design. He studied mechanical engineering at the TU Braunschweig and then industrial design at the Braunschweig University of Art. Even before his career as a product designer, he taught as a lecturer at the university. He then worked as a product designer for international companies before founding the design agency Corpus-C in 2007, which developed into one of the leading national and international agencies for medical design, pharmaceutical and laboratory design under his management. Sebastian has received numerous national and international awards.