Color Inconstancy: Light-Responsive Jagua Effect in Biobased Materials

Abstract This research presents a transdisciplinary exploration of jagua ( Genipa americana ) as a natural chromatic agent in biobased materials. Bridging design, materials science, and bioengineering, the study evaluates how jagua extract and powder influence color formation and perceptual variation under different light conditions. Large-format films were fabricated incorporating varying concentrations of liquid dye and particulate jagua. The resulting materials were analyzed for chromatic behavior under warm, neutral, and cool light spectra. Laser-cut morphological interventions further examined how structural modification mediates light transmission and viewer interaction. Results demonstrate that jagua generates dynamic chromatic responses rather than a fixed color system, revealing a condition of “color inconstancy” in which perception shifts according to environmental and morphological variables. This research contributes to emerging biobased color systems and proposes a methodological framework for integrating plant-derived knowledge into experimental material design.