What is a QR Code?
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| QR Code to this Instructor's Digital Life Blog |
QR Codes are those little bar code looking squares that you see in magazines, on business cards, on signs etc. QR stands for quick response. The QR code format was created in 1994 by a subsidiary of Toyota.
They contain information that can be read when scanned by a mobile phone with a camera and a QR code reader app that processes them.
In the far east they are highly popular and can be seen around from street signs to even grave stones.
They are license free so anyone can generate them and it is quite easy to implement them in a design, although esthetically they aren't the most pleasing.
I used to use Zxing's QR Code Generator and it is still a great tool for basic renditions but Kerem Erkans QR Code Generator is one that you can generate as a PDF, PNG, EPS for those that would like to import it easily into Illustrator with a vector.
Here is a look at Kerem's Control Panel:
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| Click image to see full panel |
Some of his more advanced presets are:
- Browse to a website
- Bookmark a website
- Make a phone call
- Send an text message
- Send an Email
- Create a Vcard (import contact info into phone)
- Create a vCalendar event (import events calendar program)
- Google Maps
- Youtube URL
- Encode the latest tweet of a user
- Tweet on Twitter
So what can you do with a QR CODE?
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| Infographic with link to Youtube video of student work |
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Place event info on an flyer or poster with either a QR code to take you to the event website, buy now on ticketmaster, or to schedule it as a calendar event.
- A lobster food truck (you hearing this Christina) could have a QR code of a Tweet that diners can scan to tweet that they loved their food.
- T-shirt QR code with contact info, great for the single person or conversely you could have one of your digital designs on the front of the shirt and on the back the QR Code with contact info.
- Use it on Real estate signs for a virtual house tour or to the landing page of the home for images.
- Works great on your business card with contact info as they can scan in the info instantly instead of inputting the info all themselves.
- Link to webpages so that you can track marketing plans with Google Analytics.
- I have seen it used for tattoos although make sure the information will never change, or else!!!
- Use on a marketing scavenger hunt to ensure everyone hits every spot on the checklist.
- If you own a Cafe and are offering free wireless put up QR code for them to scan your WiFi settings to log them on.
Here is some interesting uses of QR Codes I have seen online:
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| Awesome for Marketing your Graphic Design |
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| QR Code to add friends |
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| Create a name for yourself with a QR Code |
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| Use a QR Code for Charity |
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| Tattoo a QR Code for Life |
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| Take your QR Codes on vacation |
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| Order or tweet that your products are the best!! |
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| Add some handcrafts to the equation |
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| Use it for Customer Relationship Management |
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| Get artistic with QR Codes |
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| Designing with QR Codes is all about the contrast in colours |
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| Have Marketing contests based on QR Codes |
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| Add QR Codes to your product |
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| Stand out be creative with your QR Codes |
