Even the Naira Needs Sleep x SleepHammer

Project Overview
In Nigeria, the relentless pressure of economic instability is a shared national experience. The value of the Naira is more than a number; it’s a barometer of collective anxiety. “Naira Needs Sleep” is a conceptual design project that gives tangible form to this intangible exhaustion. In collaboration with SleepHammer, a brand celebrated for its hand-embroidered, sustainable creations, we transformed the simple sleep mask into a powerful medium for storytelling—a quiet protest, a whispered prayer, and a testament to resilience, stitched with care and intention.

The Creative Challenge
How do you make the abstract feeling of a “tired currency” felt? Our challenge was to communicate the complex, often demoralizing reality of a shrinking economy in a way that was not just critical, but creative, engaging, and ultimately, cathartic. We needed to move beyond data and headlines to create an object that resonated on a deeply human level, offering not just commentary, but also a moment of pause and a pathway forward.

The Solution: A Visual Metaphor Stitched with Meaning
The solution is a layered narrative, woven into the very fabric of two limited-edition sleep masks.
The central visual metaphor, “Tired Naira,” is brought to life through the portraits of Obafemi Awolowo from the 100 Naira note and Benjamin Franklin from the 100 US Dollar bill. Their eyes, once symbols of authority and value, are meticulously painted a tired, bloodshot red, silently screaming, “I want to have a good sleep.” This direct juxtaposition creates a silent, powerful dialogue about the lopsided strain of currency exchange rates. The genius of the design is activated when worn. The user literally covers their own eyes with the weary gaze of these economic symbols, creating a profound act of shared experience and satirical commentary.

But a protest without a proposal is incomplete. Embroidered on the back strap is the project’s strategic conclusion: “Use A Digital Wallet.” This is the conceptual resolution. As the wearer rests the “tired Naira,” the mask itself advocates for financial evolution, positioning digital wallets and blockchain technology as a modern buffer against the volatility of physical currency. The design doesn’t just identify a problem; it actively proposes a solution, offering both a moment of peace and a thought-provoking nudge toward a more resilient financial future.