Packaging Designers Dress Up the Barcode

It’s true: Some packaging designers have in fact recently unleashed their creative powers on the humble barcode. They aim to elevate the barcode from its traditional role as a purely functional element of packaging design to one that is as decorative as it as functional. And guess what? They’re doing a stellar job!

Coca-Cola was one of the first big brands to put a new twist on the barcode. It created a  barcode especially for the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic equestrian events held in Hong Kong. And now they are testing this trend in the US, where one will occasionally find a bottle of Coca-Cola with a barcode shaped like a bottle of Coca-Cola if they keep their eyes peeled.

As recently noted on the Packaging Design blog, Eye on Packaging, it turns out there’s a boatload of interesting things designers can do with the standard barcode to make it unique, clever, and compelling. And most importantly, all these things can be done without compromising the functionality of the barcode. Packaging blog Box Vox also recently featured some highly unusual barcode designs proving that yes, barcode design doesn’t have to be boring.

If you are thinking about incorporating decorative barcode designs into your packaging, good for you! If you are going to do this, however, make sure your graphic designer tests your barcode designs. More than once. This is crucial! After all, it’s great to be creative, but far more important for your customers to be able to purchase your products. And that means ensuring they ring up for purchase when scanned in the checkout line.

Comments

[Terre]

That is really fun! May I ask where you found all the barcodes above, Peter? I can't see them very well at this size. Thanks.

[Christy Correll]

Hi Terre. Yes, these barcodes are super fun! The ones by d-barcode.com were originally posted on flickr by Piutus at http://www.flickr.com/photos/alreadytaken/2530575887/.

[Branding]

good post tanks!!!

[Communion Dresses]

I know it turns out there’s a boatload of interesting things designers can do with the standard barcode to make it unique, clever, and compelling