Q&A with Zebra Pen UK

We caught up with Rachel Browne, Marketing Manager at Zebra Pen UK and headline sponsor of The Great Planner Getaway, to chat about all things Zebra and what makes their pens a favourite in the planning community.

1. What's the difference between your various pen types and when would you recommend using each one for planning?

Zebra Pen manufactures a wide range of writing instruments from marker pens and brush pens to ballpoint and gel pens; from felt tip pens to mechanical pencils. With different characteristics, each of them has its role to play in writing and drawing tasks. For creatives, there can be a large overlap in how Zebra pens are used, but for planners Sarasa Clip gel pens and Mildliner marker pens are particularly popular.

With archival quality, smudge-resistant, quick-drying ink and a choice of retractable nibs including 0.7, 0.5, 0.4 and 0.3 mm, the Sarasa Clip gel pen provides an effortless drawing and writing experience. This makes a favourable pen for planning and journalling in particular. 

The dual tipped Mildliner marker has been a firm favourite in planners’ pencil cases since it’s creation in 2009. With a bullet tip at one end and a highlighter (or brush nib) at the other, Mildliner provides a versatile and aesthetic solution for creating borders, underlining, highlighting, drawing and embellishing. 

2. We know Mildliners are a must-have for planning. What's the story behind how they were developed, and are there any lesser-known ways people are using them that have surprised you?

As long ago as the 1990s, Zebra Pen identified users who disliked the garish ink colours of existing highlighters – meaning there was a clear demand for soft-colour ink. Prior to the launch of Mildliner in Japan in 2009, three other products were launched but discontinued after failing to gain traction. Each time, females repeatedly requested their return. 

A global design trend for minimalism in 2007 inspired a new focus on the development of a highlighter pen designed specifically with females in mind; and so Mildliner, with its white barrel and monochrome grey barrel text was born. 

The way in which Mildliner is used, has changed over time. Shortly after its launch, it quickly became apparent that the grey Mildliner was being adopted by business users. It was dubbed 'greying out' for use in crossing off completed tasks on to-do lists.

The key point was that grey made the content less conspicuous while still allowing the deleted information to be read.

Subsequently, in the 2010s, Korean middle school girls began using it as a study highlighter, sharing it on social media, which then saw it spread to Japanese secondary school pupils, boosting its popularity.

From 2017 to 2019, the Bullet Journal became popular in Japan.

This method of using a notebook, published in 2013 by digital product designer Ryder Carroll, is characterised by having no fixed format and writing only what is necessary.

Its flexibility to write freely according to one's lifestyle has seen the range of writing implements used expand beyond ballpoint pens. The compatibility with Mildliner ink colours has attracted attention, leading to its adoption by women aged university student and above.

The Bullet Journal changed the way individuals used pens in notebooks. Use of the Mildliner moved from traditional, conventional highlighting to being used as a method of ‘marking.’ It shifted towards being used more like a coloured pen, such as a sign pen, for drawing lines, personal markers, and illustrations.

In line with these changes in usage and demand, the number of ink colours has been expanded from the initial 10 to 40, making it an even more popular product that meets the needs of its users.

3. Zebra's been around for decades, how has the brand evolved alongside the modern planning community?

Over time, technology has enabled the development of other products to meet the demands of pen users. Take for example, the introduction of Zebra’s revolutionary retractable felt tip pen range – CLiCKART.

An innovative ink formula means that the pens absorb moisture from the atmosphere preventing the felt tip pens from drying out. This is an obvious benefit to planners and creatives who value practicality as well as aesthetics. 

And, due for launch in the UK in 2026, Blen’s innovative pen design provides a smooth vibration-free writing experience. Eco-friendly, Blen is made from 58% recycled materials, and the emulsion ink is of archival quality – particularly useful when there is a need to prevent ink fade.

4. How do you recommend storing pens to keep them in top condition? Are there any common storage mistakes that affect pen performance?

For the pen itself:

Ensure the cap is securely fastened. If the cap is not properly closed, the nib may dry out, leading to smudging or failure to write. 

Do not leave pens in high-temperature locations (e.g. inside a car). 

Shaking the pen vigorously or dropping it can cause ink leakage or spurting.

  

For written items: 

Exposing written paper to direct sunlight may cause the ink to fade. 

This occurs because the colourants break down due to ultraviolet rays. Direct sunlight, in particular, contains strong UV rays that accelerate this decomposition. The rate varies by ink type, though pigment-based inks are designed to be relatively resistant to decomposition. For long-term storage, we recommend pigment-type inks. The Mildliner uses pigment ink.

5. What's the most creative or unusual way you've seen someone use a Zebra product in their planning setup?

This is a tricky question to answer because I daily see planners using Zebra pens creatively on social media, and every day I am inspired by work of teachers, students, parents, writers and artists alike. 

One of the techniques that particularly inspires me is when people use our Clickart range as a water-colour paint. I love the soft backgrounds that mixing Clickart ink with water creates – the beautiful blends of gentle colour that set the scene for the work that is to come. When dry, you can then use Clickart in conjunction with Mildliners and Sarasa Clip gel pens for an original mixed-media design. Clickart as a water-colour can also be used for elegant lettering. I’ve seen some amazing imaginative titles and headers created in this way.

6. Are there any upcoming releases or colours you can tease for 2026 that planners should keep an eye out for?

2026 is a big year for Zebra pen releases in the UK, and attendees of The Great Planner Getaway will be among the first to have access to some of these new products ahead of the general public. Look out for further product announcements as the year progresses.

7. What is your personal favourite from the Zebra collection?

Another difficult question as I love so many of them and my favourites change on a weekly basis. 

Like many stationery fans, I feel a giddy excitement when I lay my hands on a new Zebra Pen and it will become my newest obsession for a time, whether a marker or gel pen or a Z-Grip ballpoint with a pretty new barrel wrap design. 

I have favourites for different tasks. For example, the little known McKie permanent marker pen not only makes great statement headers, but it’s perfect for labelling food containers going into the freezer!

For everyday writing, list-making and planning, I do have a soft-spot for the Sarasa Clip. I have at least a couple in every bag I own as well as a large collection that lives permanently on my desk. I go through phrases of using different colours but am particularly attracted to the rich vintage shades.

8. What is your favourite part of your role at Zebra?

Talking to consumers is easily the best part of my role at Zebra Pen. I love talking to those who’ve been long-term Zebra fans and know and love Zebra pens as much as I do. And I love talking to those who are recent converts – those who have only just started their journey of discovery with Zebra; those who are just learning the difference between a 0.7 and a 0.5 mm nib or have just heard that there are more Mildliner colours available than their existing collection contains. 

I love the freedom of expression that Zebra pens provide, and I love how Zebra pens can often be a lifeline during those more difficult times in life. I love the shared experience of being part of a community that embraces creativity as a way of improving wellbeing.

I am very lucky to manage a wonderful team of brand ambassadors who support the aims and objectives of Zebra Pen. Working with them is like experiencing a little taste of heaven each day. Ambassadors are everyday individuals that use Zebra pens as part of their daily activities. And everyday I get to see the joy that their creativity brings the stationery community and wider public.

---

A huge thank you to Rachel and the Zebra Pen UK team for taking the time to chat with us - we can't wait for you all to see what they have in store for the event!