How to Create an Interactive Wall with QR Codes

Have a blank wall that’s begging for an eye-catching design or in need of something that will help you engage more with the public you’re trying to reach? There’s a solution for that: using QR Codes. No matter whether you plan to use them as art, to display products, in classrooms, or for direct consumer shopping, they’re the ideal way to enhance the viewer’s experience.

What is an interactive wall?

An interactive wall is an upgraded version of a wall design – a mural, billboard, poster, or high-resolution display, for example – that people can interact with, usually via their smartphone. Interactive walls enhance the experience of wall displays because they add further sensory information, such as sounds, videos, or even games. They capture and hold attention in a much more in-depth manner than traditional wall displays, which is why they’re becoming more popular for art displays, donation acceptance at events, creating shoppable walls for buying products, and for interactive display signs. 

Why interactive walls need QR Codes 

An interactive wall aims to give the viewer a deeper insight into the message or information displayed as part of the design – and QR Codes are an easy way to bridge that connection. Anyone with a smartphone or tablet can scan QR Codes with either a third-party app or directly with the camera (we have advice on how to scan a QR Code using Android), which makes those added elements on interactive walls easily accessible. 

There are benefits for marketers and companies too. You can utilize QR Code tracking for all types of Codes — when deciding whether to use a Static vs Dynamic QR Code, remember that Dynamic QR Codes will give you access to scan data. For example, if you use a QR Code to encourage video views, you can monitor exactly how many people scanned your QR Code on the interactive wall, what device they used, or if you are using multiple QR Codes on multiple interactive walls as part of an exhibition or tour, where they were located.

Best practices for creating interactive walls with QR Codes

If you plan to create interactive walls with QR Codes, there are a few design elements you’ll want to keep in mind to maximize your results. Stick to these best practices, and your interactive wall is sure to be a success!

Keep interaction points at eye level

When designing your interactive wall, make sure that the “interactive point,” i.e., the QR Code, is at eye level. If you put it too high or too low, it could become difficult to scan or reach. Always put the focal point of your interactive wall in an easy-to-reach location for viewers to see and interact with it.

Use the appropriate size

Although there is no limit to how big you can make your QR Code, it does need to be at least 2 x 2 cm (0.8 x 0.8 in) if Dynamic and 3 x 3 cm (1.2 x 1.2 in) if Static. Otherwise, it might be too small to scan. When in doubt, make your QR Code larger to ensure that it’s readable and scannable from all angles and distances. For help with QR Code sizing, take a look at our QR Code size guide.

Customize it

Your QR Code should always dazzle viewers as much as your wall design. To draw attention to your QR Code, and make it stand out, always include colors related to the rest of your design, a frame, a CTA (call-to-action) such as “Scan Me,” and your logo in the middle. Your logo is especially important if your interactive wall is in a public area because it ensures that the QR Code is authentic and safe for viewers to scan. Take a look at our guide for more information about giving your QR Code style.

6 Ways to create an interactive wall with QR Codes

There are endless possibilities to create interactive walls with QR Codes, especially because there are a multitude of QR Code types available. QR Codes enable you to put a creative twist on how you engage with customers, visitors or clients, and reach your marketing goals. This could mean directing viewers to a landing page to generate sales, creating a scavenger hunt at an event, or bringing viewers to your social media pages to boost followers, among many other examples.

To get a few ideas for how to create an interactive wall with QR Codes, check out the following examples.

#1 Scavenger hunt games at events

If you’re looking for a way to spice up a wall display at an event like a conference or a tradeshow, a scavenger hunt game is a great way to do so. Event attendees can participate by scanning the QR Code and getting a clue to where they can find the next QR Code, and so on. The first people to find the end clue win a prize, which often involves a particular product or brand. If you’re focused on something like a product launch, this is a clever way to incentivize people to try your brand and make the experience much more interactive and memorable. Use a PDF QR Code to share some information about your brand or product, lead customers to the next clue or display, or create an Image Gallery QR Code to give a visual clue as to where they should head next.

#2 Shop while waiting for public transportation

Give bored commuters a chance to shop while waiting for a train or plane with a shoppable wall. In the image below, they’ve created individual QR Codes for each item that can be scanned and then automatically purchased. In this case, you could either direct users to a landing page with a Dynamic Website URL Code or enable them to purchase the item directly through their phone via contactless payments with QR Codes.

#3 Add information to historic sites

Using a tourist QR Code helps those in the tourism industry give travelers more detailed information about the location, such as historical details or other points of interest. In the example below, visitors to the city are directed to scan the QR Code to hear audio about an important historical site. In Gibraltar, a city with some 50,000 years of history behind it, the local government decided to do something similar by adding QR Codes to various building walls around the city. Each QR Code directed tourists to the Wikipedia page relevant to that location, providing tourists with more information about the site. This same concept would work for any tourist attraction to help tourists with directions and enhance their learning experience.

#4 Interactive walls in the classroom

In an effort to embrace the advantages of technology, many teachers have begun using QR Codes for schools, especially since tablets have become a regular part of the lesson curriculum. QR Codes on classroom bulletin boards enhance learning because they can connect students with sounds and videos related to the topic they’re learning. All the students need to do is scan the QR Code with their tablet or phone, depending on their age. For younger kids, in particular, QR Codes are highly useful because they skip the tricky part of typing in a link. They also add some creativity to learning.

#5 Donation collection

The Salvation Army has regularly begun using QR Codes to collect donations. As a result of massive underfunding in their donation campaigns, they realized they needed to switch things up. Their traditional donation collection system involved a person who held buckets in front of grocery stores and other public areas. However, they kept hearing that the reason for not donating was because people were not carrying cash. They created an interactive wall display that enabled donations via a fundraising QR Code, and their donation totals skyrocketed. It’s a tactic any non-profit can use, whether via a public interactive wall display or even on their office window. 

#6 Interactive art displays

Museums can make their wall art displays more interactive by adding QR Codes, too. A few options would be to use an MP3 QR Code to have a sound version of the artist’s bio or send viewers to a website to read about the artist with a Website URL Code. This allows visitors to browse displays at their own pace, and in whatever order they wish. It’s also a great alternative to traditional audio guides.

Creating an interactive wall with QR Codes is a creative solution for many industries. It allows you to transform a simple display into something more meaningful for your customers, visitors, or clients by giving them the opportunity to engage with a particular piece of wall art. This in turn builds value, whether your aim is to boost sales or brand awareness, or simply keep them better informed.