Magnus Paslawski’s Top 10 Stationery Picks: Tools for Turning Ideas Into Reality
For Magnus, stationery is a tool to anchor the abstract to reality, through text or drawings, it gives form to the tornado of ideas that continually spin in his mind. As a ZenPop in-house marketer, he appreciates learning about new tools that opens up new possibilities for communication.
Meet Magnus Paslawski
Name
- Magnus Paslawski
About
- Self described "Super Mario of Marketers" as a dependable all-rounder who's fun to work with. He loves stationery for its ability to manifest ideas in reality and communicate in a million different ways. He has a very unorganized organizer...
Style
- Playful, experimental and intentional.
Inspiration
- Sudden sparks of creativity, data and the fabric of society.
Magnus’s Top 10 Favorite Items
1. Kutsuwa Portable Scissors
What it does
- Retractable spring-loaded mini scissors
Why it’s special
“Remember all those times you thought, "dang, I wish I had a pair of scissors!" These are for those situations! As a marketer, I like collecting good visuals, color palettes, messaging and more from magazines, packaging and other places and these have really helped me out being easily accessible. Also great for opening stuff that's not cooperative or detail work bis scissors are bad at. Not good for big cuts!”
2. Kokuyo Tape Glue
What it does
- Stylish hexagonal tape roller
Why it’s special
“This became a fave of mine when I realized this glue is strong enough to bind papers into mini booklets. Also great for scrapbooking on the go, the design is iconic, and it makes nice clicking noises..
3. Sakura Pigma Micron Fine liners
What it does
- Excellent fine liners in many sizes
Why it’s special
“They last forever and come in every size. And the blackness of the ink is as dark as the empty void of deep space.”
4. Kuretake Watercolor Brush
What it does
- Cheap Versatile advanced brush
Why it’s special
“Watercolor gets expensive if you buy a brush for every color. But what if you only needed one brush? This brush allows you to use any pigment, even dirt from a puddle could be your paint with this brush. Let the world be your palette.”
5. Pilot Lightive Fountain Pen
What it does
- Affordable and stylish everyday fountain pen
Why it’s special
“Look, I'll be honest. There are better fountain pens out there. But this one looks cool, ok? I like the matte red, the deep black accents, it goes with my planner, it goes with my fits, and it feels good to write with. The nib is a Pilot F.”
6. Croquis Book L-Size Notebook
What it does
- Giant sketchbook
Why it’s special
“I looked far and wide for a huge sketchbook, and this one delivers. I like it for allowing space for big ideas! The paper is also good, though you will find better ones for specific purposes, I enjoy this one's versatility.”
7. Mitsubishi Pencil Jet-Stream
What it does
- Delightful writing instrument
Why it’s special
“Out of all the ballpoint pens out there, this is the one I enjoy writing with the most. It is smooth, stylish, sturdy and comfortable for long sessions. If I were to buy bulk of any instrument, it'd be this pen.”
8. Uniball One P
What it does
- Coffee table eye-candy
Why it’s special
“Uniball One P is more like a piece of interior design, a decoration in the home. It goes well on a coffee table next to your favorite zines and scented candle, that people can doodle or fidget with with while taking in how much cooler your home is compared to theirs. ”
9. Ryu Ryu Sky Time Letter Set
What it does
- Gorgeous letterset
Why it’s special
“I don't really use letter sets, but I fell in love with the print, the colors and iridescent stickers. Initially I got them to send whenever because the design is kind of flexible and can be used for a lot of occasions, but I've really just used them for memory keeping.”
10. Iroha Sandwich Note
What it does
- It's a sandwich
Why it’s special
“It's a sandwich notebook. Do you really need more elaboration than that?”
Reflections from Magnus' Desk
For Magnus, stationery is more than a collection of tools—it’s how imagination meets the tangible world. Each item on his desk plays a small role in anchoring the whirlwind of ideas that fill his day, from the practical Jetstream pen to the delightfully absurd “sandwich notebook.”
His choices reflect a balance between curiosity and creativity: the kind of tools that make you want to do something, whether that’s cutting out a color palette, sketching in a giant Croquis book, or simply clicking a tape roller because it sounds nice.
At his desk, the boundaries between work and play blur into something joyful—a reminder that creativity can start with something as simple as a pen, a brush, or even a pair of pocket scissors.
If this story sparked your curiosity, you can discover even more creators and their favorite tools in our Stataionery Stories corner.
