The Ultimate Nerdbait: How to Make Scannable QR Code Bar Code Street Art

I wanted to promote my website, www.awkwardengineer.com, but wanted a more original way to get the word out then simple QR codes or advertisements.  I wanted to make street art out of it.

This a tutorial on how to make street art stencils out of them. No smartphone toting nerd can resist the allure when they see one painted on the sidewalk they're walking on. They have to scan it.

Step 1: Where to Get the Code

Just use Google to find a QR Code Generator

Step 2: Making a CAD Model of the Stencil

I traced the QR Code into a CAD program.  It took me about one lunch break.  I also connected some of the corner pieces so they wouldn't be "knife edges".  The codes are pretty robust and forgiving to little doodads like that.

Step 3: Cutting Out the Stencil

I cut my stencil out of a sheet of scrap aluminum.

Step 4: Painting With the Stencil!

Spray paint works too, but I wanted something that would wash off, so I used finger paint.

Step 5: The Finished Product

This is what the finished product looks like.  You can even scan the image!  It goes to my website, www.awkwardengineer.com