Story

A meeting of craftsmanship and ideas gives shape to JACKAL products.
Here we share the makers’ thoughts, the process behind the work, and the story of how each product comes to life.

MAKING STORY

The Spark of Inspiration

We couldn’t find a calendar we truly wanted to use ourselves.
Couldn’t something with a poised presence sit quietly on the desk each day?
That question marked the beginning of CLARA.

Not merely a tool for checking dates,
but something that clears the mind each time it comes into view.

In the warmth of the materials and the clarity of the form,
we have placed that intention.

The Process of Trial and Error

The thickness and angle of the acrylic base, the texture of the paper, and the typeface of the dates —
within this form that appears simple at first glance lies an accumulation of countless refinements.

We paid particular attention to how shadows appear when the piece catches the light.

The subtle nuance of hand-dyed acrylic and the delicate shimmer of foil stamping
were carefully balanced so that each element enhances the other without distraction.

Warm Minimalism

The answer we arrived at: “Designs that bring a sense of calm to the things you see every day.”

Because these are items you use throughout the year, we focused on a refined presence rather than decoration.

The name CLARA means “clear” and “bright.” True to its name, it brings a touch of serenity to your desk and daily life.

We hope it delivers quiet beauty and a soft, soothing light to your everyday moments.

Design & Production

Producer / Director

Yoshihiro Soya

Born in Osaka in 1972. Served as an executive at Suikosha Co., Ltd. for 13 years, helping grow annual sales to ¥900 million. Involved in establishing domestic and international operations and product development, building systems ranging from business and manufacturing structures to employee training. In 2012, founded the R&D office Frameware to focus on Japanese manufacturing. Currently engaged in direct sales, product development, testing sales methods, and providing management consulting. Also founded the product brand JACKAL, delivering cutting-edge technology and insights to clients.

Designer

Takuya Matsuda

Born in Osaka in 1978. Studied product design in Kanazawa and later participated in FABRICA (Italy). Engaged in a wide range of projects spanning interior design, furniture, product design, and communication. After returning to Japan, worked at BALS Co., Ltd., leading planning, design, and development. Founded SIRVICE in 2007, successfully collaborating with clients across diverse fields.

Awards
NY ADC Annual 88 Gold Award / red dot award / iF product design award / Good Design Award – Small and Medium Enterprise Agency Award

Designer

Masafumi Yanabe

Born in Tokyo in 1978. Studied at Parsons School of Design and worked in New York before joining FABRICA in Italy, contributing to projects across product, interior, furniture, and package design. Upon returning to Japan, participated in numerous product development projects at sarasa design. Since 2018, has been a full-time lecturer in Product Design at the Department of Life Design, Sagami Women’s University.

- Awards -
Red Dot Design Award Winner, 2013 (Germany)