September 2025 – CEO Summary of The (NEW) online Colourist magazine
The Colourist online
September 2025
This is the first edition of The Colourist magazine online. It is true that the Colourist magazine, which was a printed document posted around the world, has been available online for some time, but this article heralds another development in The Colourist publication.
We are doing this to give you better access to news, articles and keep you updated on the activities of the SDC and its members, as and when things occur throughout the year, rather than just 4 times per year.
As well as the above, we have listened to your feedback about too much content at one time, non-delivery of hard copy to various parts of the world, and are looking to improve communications to all involved.
When, The Colourist magazine went online, available as a PDF to current SDC Members only via the SDC website, this addressed many of the issues BUT introduced new aspects to address. The Colourist as a PDF was monitored for readership numbers, but only a small proportion of members appeared to read it (but when we posted hard copies, we had no data on readership numbers!) Many comments from members also strongly suggested they had not read about a subject covered in The Colourist!
Individuals also reported that a full PDF of a magazine is a lot to digest in one go and then … well, they didn’t find time or remember to go back and read everything. Which is why the SDC is now issuing The Colourist magazine as stand alone articles on the SDC website.
This means you can quickly decide if that article is of interest to you or not, plus receive frequent updates on a host of topics. Coverage will be at least the same as delivered in print and then as a combined article pdf file and we aim to grow the number of articles.
We also hope to have Guest Authored Articles in time – if you have something you would like to cover then drop us a summary of your idea to info@sdc.org.uk. Articles just need to be about colour and articles beyond textiles are very welcome.
The SDC Mission Statement is: Sharing Knowledge and Stimulating Interest in Colour. Our Royal Charter, By-laws and Rules do not specify what sector we address other than colour. So textile articles are very welcome, but so too are articles from other sectors, provided they are about colour.
We hope the new Colourist articles online are a welcome success but there are only a few ways we can determine that. The main one is web data on the number of article accesses made, so we can determine which articles had more interest than others and what was the level of interest over time. Whilst such empirical data is very useful other data can help us too. If you read an article and like it then please comment to say so, plus comment if you don’t like it. Your comments are all read and can influence what we post in future.
I have to say I much prefer handling and reading a printed edition of the magazine – than having to dial up and read it, – we all seem to be staring at screens far too much already !
I realize this is easier and cheaper for the SDC, but it is all getting much more “impersonal” than in the “good old days”.
Regards,
David Constant.
David,
Thank you for the feedback and I am sure (indeed know) there are others who feel the same. However, posted print copy comes at a cost and quite a substantial one for the numbers we would print also. Indeed it would amount to around £40 pa per member and more if they were overseas and postage cost more. Of course SDC Membership for individuals is £65 pa so this would amount to 60% or more of the annual membership subscription fee. Hence this is of course still possible but financially would probably mean increasing the membership fee very substantially.
Dr Graham Clayton, CEO, SDC
I have to say I much prefer handling and reading a printed edition of the magazine- than having to dial up and read it, – we all seem to be staring at screens far too much already ! I realize this is easier and cheaper for the SDC, but it is all getting much more “impersonal” than in the “good old days”.
Regards,
David Constant.
David,
As someone who spends a substantial part of my waking hours looking at a screen, I do understand your comment. The option to print off the webpage of course is one available.
On the impersonal, or less in-person, these days then we do still hold in-person events and are observing a change in how these are valued. A recent UK Technical Conference in Bradford was both well attended (ca 140) and also it was noticeable how well people were interacting with everyone else present. The increase in screen time certainly seems to have moved people to value such in-person occasions also. The 2025 Awards & Day of Celebration have been moved from York to Chester this year and are taking place on 14th November with an invitation to all to attend. The SDC also has a stand at the ITMA Asia exhibition in Singapore at the end of October this year and currently (Sept 25-27) SDC International are holding a ‘Colourants, Chemicals, Machinery, Fashion Technology’ exhibition in Bangladesh. The SDC still host and attend events for such increasingly valued in person meetings and we hope to meet in person many members at such events around the globe.
Dr Graham Clayton, CEO, SDC
unable to download this issue eamon furey. This is my second attempt in 3 days
Eamon, the pdf of new online Colourist is not available to download as such. We have removed that step to make reading it simpler. Each article is now a separate web page which current members can view when logged in via the members area.
You can of course print the web page and that will include being able to print it as a pdf file if you wish.