I'm guessing that most of you have a wallpaper or desktop image on your computer.  They let us express ourselves and customize what would be an otherwise bland experience.  If you have a custom desktop image for your brand, there's no doubt that you'd like it to say more and do more than show off your logo.   Below are some examples of how you can use your desktop image as a tool as well as a decoration.

Make a date with a calendar.

If you're like me, your always looking for a calendar to see what the date is or working to estimate a timeframe for a project.  Adding a calendar to your desktop is a great way to help with that.

There are a few ways to add add dates to your desktop.  There are software add-ons that will dynamically update the calendar to he current month and can also highlight the current day.  These add-ons come in many flavors, so you're bound to find one that works for you.

• Windows
• Mac OS X
• Linux

If you're looking for a more customized look, you can add your own static calendar to your wallpaper.  The only drawback is you'll need to swap the imaged out every month, but you can craft the calendar to match any look you choose (like your branding perhaps?).  Check out some examples.

To-do list or project board.

Another great way to benefit from your desktop image is to create compartments that can hold folders, apps, or whatever you need to help you with a project.

Taking this to the next, crazy step would be to develop something like Panic did for their project board.  You could call it desktop image-ishe-sque, or you could just call it hardcore. 

Create a mini-portfolio or a featured work board.

You've just designed an amazing Website and branding solution for a client and can't wait to show it off and generate more business.  Why not create a scene, on your desktop, and make your recent projects the highlight?

By displaying your work on your desktop, you can quickly and easily give an example of what you can do to help an organization reach their goals. 

I've even gone as far as posting projects that are in-progress to my desktop for critique and examination.  One of the best ways to decide if a solution works is to see if you can live with it.

Add a QR code.

A new technology that is slowly crawling into mainstream view is the QR code.  Simply put, a QR code is a barcode that many mobile phones are able to read and decipher using a variety of apps.  When the code is scanned, it can redirect someone to a web page, twitter profile, a SMS message, email address, or other forms of digital content.

In a recent project for Escape Route, I incorporated a QR code into iPad and iphone wallpaper images.  Now when the client is at a convention or trade show, they can display their iPad and let a prospective customer capture the code for later use.  In this case, it will direct someone to the Escape Route site. Think of it as a business card on steroids.

I'll be the first to admit that QR code use in the United States is just in it's infancy and there's no telling how long it will take to catch on, but it's a great way to add some cutting edge tech into long-standing piece of static imagery.