Track Record

Blue Island Media is proud to manage a number of websites for major clients in the NHS/NIHR, education and charity sectors. Probably the best known of these is the world-renowned Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, award-winning pioneers in numerous fields of medical research including COVID-19 treatments and vaccination. The neighbouring Oxford Health BRC and some other websites for Oxford University Hospitals also come under the aegis of Blue Island Media, and we also provide health mapping services through our flagship Maproom project. We were exceptionally busy through the pandemic years!

We produced three titles as tie-ins to the Dragons’ Den TV series. Our work involved interviewing entrepreneurs who had appeared on the show to turn their stories into lessons that chimed with the themes of the books. We had access to the Dragons’ set during filming at Pinewood Studios to photograph material. Timing was key to the success of the project, as the books had to be available when the series was broadcast.

Winner of the IACP Cookbook Award, this was a large logistical project, involving us sourcing hundreds of images and bottles of whisky from around the world. We worked with seven authors, and built up a team of 10 editors and designers at the height of the project, as well as shooting on location in Speyside and Islay.

Trending No. 1 on Google, even above the BBC’s election maps, our multi-layered demo map shows off the capabilities of the interactive spreadsheet-fed data mapping system developed by geospatial specialist Rosalyn Ellis. This map is a favourite with MPs and political journalists.

A major revision and expansion of the classic work on churches by the poet laureate Sir John Betjeman. We researched 2,500 churches and pinpointed their GPS coordinates for digital maps. Working alongside the venerable writer/ photographer Richard Surman, we undertook half the location photography, created all the printed maps, and designed and edited the work.

Between 2002 and 2008 we produced the annual Londoner’s Diary. The diary included photographs and anecdotes about London life and its histories, mixed with useful information about events and travel.

We helped develop the style and tone of two series: Real City and Top 10 guides, and commissioned and produced numerous titles for our long-time client, Dorling Kindersley.

As well as our award-winning World Whisky project, we’ve produced several whisky titles for Collins and DK’s Eyewitness series, and we’ve revised Michael Jackson’s Malt Whisky Companion. We have also produced guides on wine and beer.

Produced to coincide with a BBC TV series, this book was reminiscent of a holiday scrapbook based on the summer road trip of Oz Clarke and James May, backed up by factual information about British drinks. The project entailed another tricky schedule, as the book needed to be produced while the series was still being filmed.