Plush comfort but still supportive

We started with quantitative and qualitative research. First doing a survey of 1200 people to understand generally what down pillow users preferred and looked for in a pillow, then interviewing a select few of down pillow enthusiasts to understand their behaviors during sleep.

Chambering to achieve support

Down is a traditional material used for insulation and to create plush pillows and cushions. Support does not go in hand with down. Usually, the solution for more support is to just stuff the pillow with more down or use tougher feathers that have sharp quills and flatten easily. That approach is not wrong, but you end up with a very dense pillow that feels compacted and dense rather than plush and light. The idea of chambering came to mind because air needs to work in tandem with the down. The structure of down traps air. That is why it has a high insulation factor. Manipulating that characteristic of trapping air into specific chambers was my solution for creating support in specific areas of the pillow for head and neck support.

Education

Owning and using a down pillow also takes some education. If cared for properly, it can hold its loft and can last generations. Making sure there were reminders for fluffing and washing like labeling and on the packaging was important.