#design — Visual and technical design rules for QR codes that look distinctive without breaking the scan
17 posts tagged #design.
A QR code is a constraint satisfaction problem dressed up as a design surface. The decoder needs at minimum 50% cell coverage, a clean centre on each module, a 4-module quiet zone, error correction that absorbs print damage, and finder patterns the camera can lock onto from a distance. Inside those constraints the design space is wider than people assume — and outside them, the most striking-looking codes quietly fail in production.
These posts cover the visual + technical design rules. Round modules vs square. Custom shapes (diamonds, leaves, brand-mark pixels) and which actually scan. Logo overlays — how big is too big. Contrast ratios for brand colours. Scan-distance math for outdoor codes. The five-constraint checklist every code should clear before going to print.
If you're a designer building QR codes that need to survive real-world conditions, or a brand evaluating what's actually possible, these posts are the version that respects both the design intent and the engineering reality.
Round QR codes with logos — the centre size math
Round QR codes with logos lose 22% area per dot, which shrinks the safe centre logo size. Here's the exact math behind a round QR code with logo center.
Ethereum QR codes — EIP-681, chain IDs, stablecoins
An ethereum qr code encodes an address, an EIP-681 URI, or a stablecoin transfer. Here's what wallets read, why the chain ID matters, and what breaks.
Logo placement in QR codes — how big can it actually be
Logo placement in QR codes lives or dies on three numbers — error correction, percent of total area, and how far the logo sits from centre. Here's the math.
Best QR code generator with logo — the honest comparison
Picking a QR code generator with logo support means choosing between watermarks, scan-killing defaults, and clean output. Here is the honest ranking with names.
QR code on t-shirt — printing methods that survive wash
A QR code on a t-shirt only earns its keep if it scans after 50 washes. DTG, screen, transfer, embroidery — which method survives, what size to print.
Plain text QR code — when the payload is the text itself
A plain text QR code stores the message directly in the pixels, with no redirect, no internet, and no scan tracking. Here is when and how to use a plain text QR code.
Animated QR codes — when they work and when they don't
Animated QR codes look futuristic and scan worse than the static ones they replace. Here is when animated QR codes work and when they don't.
Minimum QR code size for print — the math designers miss
The minimum QR code size for print is set by scan distance, error correction, and data length. The math, the placements, and the DPI that go with each.
Coffee shop WiFi QR code — the table card as brand
A coffee shop wifi qr code is one of the few print pieces a stranger reads in full. Table-card design, reveal pattern, and rotation that pay back.
Round QR code generators compared — which actually scan
A real shootout of round QR code generators with print-test data — most produce codes that pass on screen and fail in the printer. Here is the honest list.
Colored QR codes — when color helps and when it kills
Most posts on the topic say you can use any colour. They're wrong. The contrast thresholds, brand-colour pitfalls, and palette rules for colored qr codes.
QR code scanability score — what it is and how to use it
The QR code scanability score concept — what it measures, when generators show it, and how to use it before printing instead of after.
QR error correction levels — when to use L, M, Q, or H
QR codes carry 7, 15, 25, or 30 percent redundancy at levels L, M, Q, H. How to pick the right QR error correction level for print, outdoor, and screen.
Custom QR code shapes — what works and what breaks
Diamond modules, leaf shapes, brand-mark pixels — beyond round QR codes, what's possible? Here's the contrast cost of custom QR code shapes and where to stop.
QR codes outdoors — billboards, bus stops, signage
QR codes for outdoor advertising — billboards, bus stops, signage. Scan distance, surface, daylight, weather. What to size, print, and test outdoors.
How to design a custom QR code that actually scans
How to design a custom QR code that actually scans — five constraints behind every branded QR with round modules, custom colours, and a centre logo.
Round QR codes — what actually makes them work
Round QR codes look great on packaging and posters but only scan reliably when the underlying code is built right. Here's what changes and what doesn't.