It’s a perfect example of function over form. It’s great for those long flights across the ocean and those layovers in the airport. It’s a head-sized space for a power nap. It’s the Ostrich Pillow.

Here’s a description from the press release by designers kawamura-ganjavian and Studio Banana Things:

Ostrich Pillow offers a microenvironment in which to take a warm and comfortable power nap at ease. It is neither a pillow, nor cushion, bed or garment, but a bit of each, all at the same time. It’s soothing cave-like interior shelters and isolates both your head and hands, perfect for a power nap. You can use the Ostrich Pillow at your desk, on a bench, on the train or while you wait at the airport to catch a flight. In fact, you can use the Ostrich Pillow whenever and wherever you feel like a nap is needed.

Now watch it in action, because the above paragraph just doesn’t do it justice:

The architecture and design studio kawamura-ganjavian is made up of a team of cross-cultural creative types. They seem like the kind of people who wonder how to make a better mousetrap and come up with a new kind of cheese. Among others, they are

Pablo Carrascal, from Spain, studied in Spain and Mexico
Maki Portilla Kawamura, Spanish-Japanese, studied in London, worked in Spain and Switzerland
Amir Afshar, British-Iranian, studied and works in London
Mónica Mejía, Colombian, studied in Colombia, USA, and Spain, works in Paris
Cornelia Tapparelli, Swiss-Italian, studied in Lausanne and Zurich, works in Lausanne

Other products from kawamura-ganjavian include the Twist&Brush, a toothbrush for travelers that has a built-in toothpaste dispenser, and Eat with Your Fingers, a knife-spoon-and-fork set that fits on the ends of your fingers.

I think the Ostrich Pillow is a great idea, but I’m just not daring enough to be the first one on my block to use one. So how about you go first and make it a trend? (It’s currently available by donation through Kickstarter. ) I’ll be right behind you.

[photo from Studio Banana Things, used with permission]