More than just a business card

Our Mobile QR Code

Here at 32spokes, we write a lot of custom HTML & CSS. Recently though, we tried our hand at a different type of code—QR or Quick Response code.

A QR code is a small black and white pattern similar to a barcode that can be photographed and read by your average cellphone camera. It’s one way to quickly transfer information, such as phone numbers or map coordinates, to anyone who takes a photo of the barcode.

The first time we saw these neat little codes was during an art opening for photographer Ron Laufer at Kafka’s Coffee and Tea. Ron had the usual nameplates accompanying his photos, but he added a QR code beneath each title. It was like an Easter egg hunt for related content; when photographed by a cellphone some of the codes took the user to a YouTube video, others went to a news article or a Google map showing the place the photo was taken. QR codes were quite a hit at the opening.

Our brand new business cards have QR codes on the back

According to Wikipedia, QR codes were created by Denso-Wave (a Toyota subsidiary) in 1994, but Toyota has since decided to forego the patent and make the software free to all users. We’re quite the fans of all things open source, so we decided to pat Toyota on the back and make our own QR code for the back of our brand spanking new business cards.

These mini cards are so easy to moo-ve...

We also just made some moo mini cards. We love these wee cards when we’re cycling because they are so small, they have just the right amount of information and are easy to carry in our moo mini card keychain holder (see right). 

These are just two examples of how we are on the cutting edge of neat marketing initiatives. Be sure to hit us up for a mini card or go on an QR code treasure hunt of your own.