Beautiful barcodes

Interesting article on WSJ.com about the latest trend in beautiful packaging...artistic barcodes. You knew it was just a matter of time, especially given how are far we've come in the US in terms of thinking about packaging. European countries have been doing it for years but now, the all-form-and-function, no design days, are over (my theory is that Apple, not Europe, had a lot to do with the way American business and consumers view design today ...but it's just a theory and I am NO expert :)

Anyway, check some other fantastic, whimsical and indeed wildly artistic takes on those boring old numbers and lines :)