Some news…we released our own Generator for HTML5 QR codes, made for engaging human eyes and machines.

NOTE: Browser based but desktop only for now.

QR codes were designed over 30 years ago for robots in Japanese factories, not for human eyes. Yet here we are in 2025, with over 4 billion devices featuring cameras equipped with Vision AI software natively, and our phones still rarely interact meaningfully with the screens we encounter every day. We think that’s a massive missed opportunity.

What We Built: The QRBRD Generator creates live HTML5 based QR codes instead of traditional static images. Think animated, interactive, and genuinely engaging QR codes that work seamlessly on Connected TV screens, digital billboards, and any environment where static just doesn’t cut it anymore.

Here’s what this looks like in practice, a QR code that adapts its visuals based on realtime weather conditions: Live Weather QR Code Demo (no signup required to view)

Example of an design integrated with Weather API

Why I think this matters now: Having spent years in adtech, I’ve seen how minor visual improvements can dramatically shift engagement and revenue. We have see Interactive QR codes significantly outperform static designs, boosting engagement by upwards of 80%. With generative AI and our AI-powered Generator simplifying development, the benefits clearly outweigh the initial effort.

Despite QR codes being widely used to bridge physical and digital interactions, their visual design hasn’t evolved significantly in three decades. While pioneers Flowcode are uniquely progressive showing what’s possible with beautiful QR code designs plus CRM, we think there’s still so much untapped potential, especially in digital native contexts.

We’re in a unique moment where QR codes need to serve two masters — humans and machines — while increasingly sophisticated Vision AI software makes this more possible than ever. Plus, DENSO WAVE EUROPE (with visionary Masahiro Hara leading the charge) made QR codes royalty free 30 years ago, essentially inviting innovators to build with them. That collaborative spirit was rocket fuel for adoption then, and it’s still driving innovation today.

Features & Capabilities: The QRBRD Generator transforms QR codes from static images into responsive HTML5/CSS/JavaScript components, significantly expanding what’s creatively and functionally possible.

Core Features:

• QR Code Generator enabling animation and interactivity through custom CSS and JS inputs, with built-in features for dynamic styling.
• “Create with AI” and “Edit with AI” workflows powered by leading LLMs like Google Gemini, OpenAI GPT-4, and Anthropic Claude.
• API for programmatic generation at scale for enterprise workflows.
• Pre-built templates in a gallery for non-developers, plus a wide range of SVGs available.
• Free tier (email/Google sign-up) plus credit-based advanced features.
• Publish your HTML5 QR codes as hosted pages with Signal.Codes.

Edit with AI workflow

Technical Advantages:

• HTML5 Native: QR codes as pure HTML/SVG/Canvas, reducing CDN overhead and static image hosting costs.
• Pixel-Perfect Responsive Scaling: Seamlessly scales for digital signage, kiosks, Connected TVs, POS systems, and mobile.
• Instant Dynamic Styling: Real-time CSS changes to colours, animations, or states without additional API calls.
• Built-in Interactivity: Easily add animations, countdown timers, geo-location triggers, and sensor-based interactions.
• Optimised Performance: Efficiently minified and compressed to ensure fast loads and minimal CPU/GPU usage.

The Broader Vision: This Generator is one piece of a much broader puzzle we’re assembling at QRBRD focusing on how digital and physical worlds interact. We’re exploring how visual triggers can create more meaningful connections between the screens we encounter and the devices in our hands (or on our faces). We have some exciting collabs on the way and others in progress. More on that soon!

We’re moving towards an agentic AI era, meaning QR codes won’t just be manual ‘point-and-scan’ experiences. Imagine your phone automatically scanning a nearby QR code and instantly adding a discount voucher to your digital wallet no manual action required. That’s the future we’re building for.

We’re still refining the Generator, and honestly, we’re learning as much from what you build as from what we ship. This project has evolved significantly from initial experimentation (inspired by generative AI QR code art), expanding into numerous fascinating directions.

Whether you’re working on Connected TV, DOOH, interactive campaigns, or just want to experiment with making QR codes more engaging, we’d love to see what you create. The input from the developer and creative community is especially critical at this stage. Your experimentation and feedback will fundamentally shape our roadmap.

Ready to innovate? Jump straight in at qrbrd.com with our free tier — you could have your first interactive QR code live in minutes. If you’re comfortable with CSS and JS, you should be able to get pretty far. If you like what we’ve built, consider buying credits to experiment with our Create with AI and Edit with AI workflows.

We can’t wait to see what you’ll create, and we’re excited to hear your critiques, suggestions, and the creative integrations you’d envision for dynamic, programmable QR codes.

Small team, big dreams! Thanks for all continued support!

Ciarán, Khalil and Maris