01 / Understand the problem
Look at fit, movement and wear in context. What was worn, in which conditions, and what needs attention? Surf sessions and repair observations give the question its starting point.
ADC R&D / From use to the next version
Research &
Development.
We develop wetsuits and rashguards around the details of surfing: fit, movement, warmth where needed, and where wear begins. Research means understanding those needs. Development means working through the design, the sample and the next revision.
The surf asks questions.
So does the repair bench.
A hood that shifts. A sleeve that falls short. A seam that wears early or is difficult to repair. RRU — Repair, Renew, Update — brings the life of existing gear back into development, so durability and ease of repair are considered from the first design.
From a question to a revision.
02 / Develop and try
Work through the material, pattern or construction choices in a sample. Use it with a clear question in mind, and bring back notes on fit, feel and what happens in the water.
03 / Revise and check again
Decide what to change and why. Carry unresolved questions into the next version. A revision is a design decision; further use is needed to find out whether it addresses the problem.
A development note:
SUN-HOODED.
What was noticed
Trial-wear conversations raised questions about hood fit, wrist coverage and stitching on the hooded rashguard.
What changed
Development records include hood sizing, brim reinforcement, sleeve-length revisions in XXS and XS, and reinforcement stitching.
What remains to learn
How the revised details feel and hold up in further use. These are recorded changes, not confirmed follow-up test results.
An anonymous product-development note, not a formally documented R&D Pilot project.
R&D Pilot.
A part in development.
R&D Pilot is a product-development participation role within Aqua Driver Crew, ADC's wider participation system. It brings surfers' sample use, fit feedback, material and thickness observations, and session notes into the work.
The role is part of R&D, not the whole of it. The workshop considers that feedback alongside construction and repair observations when deciding what to develop next.
What have you noticed?
Tell us what you wear, where you surf and the detail you would like to improve. For development questions or to learn more about R&D Pilot, start a conversation with ADC.