Student Q&A – Alex Palmer, De Montfort University

Our continuing series of interviews — featuring students currently undertaking a qualification with the SDC — shines a light on what it’s like to train with us, and how course learnings can be applied in real-life situations.

Find out more about how our courses can fit around your current working life, as well as the potential boost it can offer to your career prospects.

Student name: Alex Palmer
Employer: De Montfort University
Role: Technical dye instructor
SDC course: FTCC and TCC

Hi Alex, thanks for taking part in this interview! Firstly, how did you get started in the dyeing industry?

I was a student at Loughborough University studying printed textiles. As part of that course I looked at dyeing and printmaking from a design point of view and learnt how to apply dyes – but not how or why they work. I then worked as a hosiery designer, a wallpaper colourist and textile screen printing tutor but started my current job teaching the processes of dyeing about 8 years ago.

So, how did you find yourself enrolled on the colour education pathway with the SDC?

I felt that although I could teach the students how to colour match and dye textiles, I didn’t really understand the reasons behind the results. I looked online and found the SDC and thought that these courses would be ideal for me. I was lucky enough to have the support from my workplace, so the university funded my FTCC qualification and now I’m just completing the 2^nd year of the TCC, having had support from both the university and the Worshipful Company of Dyers, for that I’m very grateful.

How did you find fitting in learning around working full time?

Well, it’s been hard and I’ve had to put in the hours but I work in quite a supportive team – but I still needed to revise in the evenings and complete homework at weekends, to keep up with the course deadlines.

Was the course content applicable to your role, and were you able to implement your learnings pretty quickly?

The FTCC was very chemistry based which really helped to give me a grounding for the TCC – had I not studied that first year, I think I would have struggled in the TCC considering the last time I studied chemistry was 15 years ago! The TCC was when I felt more able to put my learnings into practice – the real nitty gritty of dyeing. I felt like I could problem solve more effectively, more confident to order new dyes into the department and to develop old processes that I had inherited.

I also feel more confident to help masters and PhD students and I’ve definitely been able to expand in my role and remit.

What is your favourite thing that you have learned about while studying on the colour education pathway?

I really enjoyed the colour physics section of the TCC. Understanding how we perceive colour was really fascinating to me and not something I had really been taught before.

How has earning while learning benefited you?

This is a course that only really makes sense if you are able to apply what you are learning so I wouldn’t have done it if it wasn’t for the job I’m employed in. Working in the dye lab and studying the FTCC and then TCC go hand in hand.

And finally, what are your ambitions for the future?

I’d like to think I could move on to the ASDC at some point but what I’ve learned so far has been absolutely invaluable. Whatever the future holds for me and coloration I’m much better equipped.

I didn’t particularly enjoy chemistry at school, I preferred biology and physics, but I’ve surprised myself with what I’ve achieved.