Designers and clinical photographers win national awards

Staff from Oxford Medical Illustration (OMI) – the in-house team which provides services including clinical photography, graphic design, printing, and video production at Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) – have been recognised at a national awards ceremony.

The OMI Design team won a Silver Award and Clinical Photographers Millie Hudson and Scott Selwyn both won Bronze Awards at the Institute of Medical Illustrators Awards on 3 October.

A welcoming new installation at Oxford Children’s Hospital earned the Design team a Silver Award, recognising the creative and technical expertise behind a project designed to celebrate generosity and inspire future support.

Oxford Hospitals Charity commissioned the team to create a permanent Wall of Thanks at the main entrance to the Children’s Hospital in order to give donors – from individuals and families to schools, businesses and community fundraisers – visible recognition for the vital part they play in improving care for patients.

Working closely with the Charity, OMI transformed a complex brief into an uplifting bouquet of balloons – a warm, accessible idea that brings colour and optimism to a busy clinical setting while remaining sensitive to the experiences of patients and families.

Every detail was carefully considered, from sightlines, scale and photography to infection control requirements, durable materials and a flexible system that allows more than 200 donor acknowledgements to be updated over time.

The result is more than a recognition wall. It creates a memorable welcome, gives the Charity a distinctive backdrop for events and supporter stories, and turns public gratitude into an invitation for others to be part of the hospital’s future.

Jackie Love, OMI’s Head of Design, said: “Winning a Silver Award for Design in Healthcare is a proud achievement for the team and a celebration of collaborative design at its best. By working closely with our friends at Oxford Hospitals Charity, we were able to turn their dream into a successful and distinctive reality.

“The project demonstrates how thoughtful creativity, technical rigour and a clear understanding of audience and place supports Oxford Hospitals Charity in its ambition to thank its supporters, strengthen its public presence and communicate the difference charitable giving makes.”

Sarah Vaccari, Head of Communications, Oxford Hospitals Charity, added: “We are absolutely delighted with the final design which strikes the perfect balance between being positive and uplifting while also remaining professional and appropriate for a hospital setting. We have received so many positive comments from hospital staff, other charities, and, most importantly, our charity supporters and patients.

“It is rare for a project to receive such universally positive feedback and fulfil the brief so completely. We are absolutely thrilled with our Wall of Thanks!”

Clinical Photographers Millie Hudson and Scott Selwyn both won Bronze Awards at the Institute of Medical Illustrators Awards for their outstanding clinical images.

Millie’s image highlighting a patient’s condition, hypodontia, was taken at the request of the Trust’s orthodontists while Scott’s image of childhood scarring was requested by dermatologists.

Roddy McColl, OMI's Head of Service, said: "I'm extremely proud that members of my team consistently win such prestigious awards. It's a real testament to the professionalism, skill and creativity that they bring to work every day."

OMI can provide services to not only staff at OUH but also external clients – the team can be contacted via email at medical.illustration@ouh.nhs.uk.