Smart materials are a class of innovative materials that have the ability to respond dynamically to external stimuli, such as temperature, light, pH or electric fields. Unlike traditional materials, which maintain fixed properties, smart materials can change their physical properties in a controlled and reversible manner. This adaptability makes them incredibly valuable in a wide range of applications. These materials for example include molecular switches in the main chain, side chain and crosslinks of polymer networks. With the use of these molecular switches incorporated into materials, macroscopic properties such as adhesion can be altered with external stimuli. This work presents a design which incorporates a spiropyran (SP) derivative in the side chain of polymers. Current research aims towards the effect of the functionalized spiropyran side chain moieties on coating properties before and after switching to the merocyanine (MC) form.