NTK on the QR... Have you cracked your code yet?

You are probably thinking I have completely lost the plot with that title but I was trying to be a bit clever... but not as clever as the most versatile thing designers and marketeers have at their disposal currently... THE QR CODE!

The Quick Response (or QR to you and me) code first appeared in 1994 in Japan but I personally started using them way back in 2011 when it was clear that it was a natty, fun way of getting people to book tickets for theatre shows through their phone.

Then they kind of went out of fashion in the UK for a bit, until the smart phones got really, very smart.

Since the tech has caught up, QR codes have accelerated in their use and become a Swiss Army knife of fast data transfer!

No... listen... bear with me on this analogy... this is how it works!

1. Versatile Tool: Just like a Swiss Army knife has various blades, screwdrivers, and other tools for different tasks, a QR code can contain different types of data such as text, URLs, contact information, or even instructions for a machine to execute.

2. Compact Design: A Swiss Army knife is designed to be compact and portable, allowing you to carry many tools in a small package. Similarly, a QR code can store a significant amount of information in a small, square arrangement of black and white squares.

3. Ease of Use: Using a Swiss Army knife is straightforward; you select the tool you need for a particular task and use it accordingly. Similarly, with a QR code, you just need a smartphone or a QR code scanner to quickly read and interpret the information encoded within it.

4. Multifunctional: A Swiss Army knife can be used for various purposes like cutting, screwing, opening bottles, etc. Likewise, a QR code can serve multiple functions such as providing website links, making payments, storing contact information, or even containing Wi-Fi network credentials.

5. Convenience: Carrying a Swiss Army knife means you have a range of tools at your fingertips whenever you need them. Similarly, having QR codes handy means you can access information or perform actions quickly and conveniently, whether it's scanning a ticket for entry, accessing a website, or making a payment.

See? This is why they are so good to use as it can save a design LOADS of space.

Several of my most recent business card designs have had a QR on them somewhere. In fact, here is my most recent cards design for a photographer!

How cool is that QR code?

It saves loads of space with all the various web, email, social details that it can just sit there, looking like a camera. Neat and tidy.

So, do you use QR codes for your business? If not... why not?

TTFN!