Adobe
Adobe is known for its cutting-edge software for creative professionals, but it also has some secret projects in the works. At the 2023 Adobe MAX conference, it revealed one of them: a dress that can change its appearance in real time. The dress looked normal at first, but then it turned from matte white to reflective, and different parts of it changed colours and patterns. The dress, called Project Primrose, uses special "Reflective Light-Diffuser Modules" that create flexible and non-emissive display systems.
Project Primrose is not a product, but a proof of concept. It shows a new way to preview and prototype designs and patterns almost instantaneously. The dress can display any content created with Adobe software, such as Firefly, After Effects, Stock, and Illustrator. Adobe says that this technology can be applied to other surfaces, such as furniture, bags, and more. This would allow designers to experiment with endless styles and let users download and "wear" the latest designs.
The technology behind Project Primrose is based on reflective-backed polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC), a material that can reflect light when electrically activated. It's typically used in smart windows. This material is energy-efficient and non-emissive, meaning it does not emit light but reflects it. It can also be shaped into different forms and sizes. It has more potential than electronic ink and other display technologies.
Adobe’s innovation is remarkable for two reasons. First, it uses a reflective and eye-catching material instead of e-ink or conventional displays. Second, it integrates this material with its creative software, making an opening for designers to create on more surfaces.