Custom Barcodes

Image: d-barcode

The Japanese graphic arts firm d-barcode creates customized barcodes for clients who want to use them to grab customers' attention. In Fast Company, Cliff Kuang writes:

They've even begun selling their wares to anyone who wants to license them, starting at $1,500 for the design, and $200 a year for licensing. A custom or exclusive use code will run upwards of $4,000--but given that companies spend millions on designing a single package, why don't we see more detailed thinking like this? Middle managers spend weeks arguing about kerning--it'd be better if they spent more time rethinking every inch of such highly prized real estate.

Link via Fast Company

Hm, why not just make one yourself and save the licensing fee?

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You know MAD magazine had an article featuring this same idea around 30 years ago. It's hard to find new things. :^P

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Good idea Alex : just download a free barcode generator (like Code Barre X), save as vector graphic, open in Illustrator (or Inkscape : it's free)... et voila.

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Pfft. Middle managers don't argue about kerning. They say things like, "It needs to be more 'Edgy'." and "Why is there so much blank space here?" and "Make it more fun."