Planning Digipak - Miss Miller

Digipaks are what is most commonly used by artists when they are producing a special edition of there album. Compared to that of a standard CD jewel case they are better in standard. They promote the artist further as there is usually a personal message inside from the artist to the fans which engages with them more directly that just the music itself.

I have conducted some research of my own into this field before I start to design what I wanted the digipak to look like. By doing this it enabled me to understand the codes and conventions with the Psychedelic Genre and then that being applied to a Digipak of the artist our song is from. From this I wanted to make (alike the Magazine Advert) it as close to the conventions of the genre as possible so that I would please the target audience who are highly familiar with the genre already. I wanted to keep to the same layout as seen in Tame Impalas actual digipak as I feel that it covers all of the necessary areas that the audience buying the product want to see.

The content of each panel will be as follows

Front Cover - There will be a display of the Bands Name and the album title.

Back Cover - This will show the content of the album in the form of the song content.

Inside Cover 1 - Artwork

Inside Cover 2 - Artwork

Inside Cover 3 - This will involve a dedicated panel to the artist with a personal message, we have decided to include this due to the fact we feel that we want to create a personal feel to the digipak making it more meaningful for the audience who buy the products.

CD - The CD will holds the band name and album title so that it has a link with the digital but also so that it cannot be misplace because it is not labelled correctly.

Colour, There has been a wide array of colours used that reflect the genre and my magazine advert as I felt there should be a connection between the two. I have opted to use different coloured stripes as it is very appealing and sets the colours apart from each other in an orderly fashion. I have chosen to use the element of colour completely on two panels of my digipak as I feel that it is highly appealing for audiences and eye -catching and will maintain the audiences interests for a sustained period of time. I have also used purely black and white stripes as too reflect the complete opposite of the bold and colorful panel as it is also gives the same effect to the audience and gives symmetry despite the actual colours themselves.

Conventions of the genre, I would say the main conventions of the genre seen in my digipak design can be seen by the colours mainly, as the genre does promote the theme and indirect use of drugs, seeing hallucinations of any form can be related to colour and the idea of self interpretation as everyone's perception of drugs is different with the same being true to reactions and what they see when under the influence. Only again I have done this for the reason it will please wider audience and the demographic that already listen to the genre. Another convention that can be draw is the way the artist cannot be clearly see n by the audience, In this genre the artist themselves it not always so apparent it can be said that I have replicated this as I have included a picture of the artist from the back so his face with all of distinguishable features are hidden from view. This is alike when artists wear excessive amounts of make up so the audience can question whether it is actually them. For all the audience knows the picture is of someone that looks like him and it has just been used because they will never know.

Images used, in my planning I have chosen to use the image as of the artist for reasons already mentioned but also because it creates a direct link between the artist and the audience as they can see him (although only from the back), and from that they feel they are becoming closer to the artist as they have purchase a piece of his work that bares himself. I also plan to used a picture of the setting of our music video of Liverpool street station or docklands on the front cover as it will relate to our music video and also wider audiences who are familiar with the setting may be enticed to buy the product even if they are not familiar with the style of music. In addition I plan on the artist panel to make look as if he is performing on stage so I will insert a picture of a crowd to give it an antithetic feeling. The use of the picture of the artist is to make them more recognisable for audiences, in addition my putting a face to a name it means that it opens up a personal touch for the audiences to bond with and recognise in the future.

Layout Design, I feel the layout is rather conventional to the generics of a standard digipak. I have included all the necessary information that the audience is expecting to see/ require and have dedicated that to difference panels to spread it out so it does not seem overloaded and cramped.
1) Front Panel (Title and Album Name)
2)Artist Picture (Personal Message to fans)
3)Coloured Art Panel
4)Black and White Art Panel
5) Back Panel (Song List with Numbers)
6)CD (Name of Band so it cannot be confused with other C-D and therefore be misplaced. )

Typography, Once again I have followed through with my idea of using Capital Letters to make the digipak standout to audiences but this time I have decided to only use the outline of the letter as I feel this we become too repetitive for audiences, as it is quite a reoccurring motif in my plans, I thought my slightly altering it, it would make it seem new and fresh while still looking alike the other text so it is apparent the two are related. I have also use hand written the Album title, Song List and Artists personal message as I feel buy doing this it reflects the purpose of the digipak as a special edition  of the standard CD Jewel Case. I have also keep the in relation to the genre as the handwritten text is all in difference colours making each song difference from each other which in truth is what each song is meant to be. I have also included the on the CD somewhat an abbreviation of the band name in thin Capital letters all in the same colour on differing colour backgrounds to make it the focus but also to prevent the C-D being misplaced by the audience as people who buy this type of product are probably fans of music and have many similar products.

Language, The language used in my poster is rather plain once again its gets all essential information across to the audience. I have given needed information such as the Bands Name but it has been abbreviated due to the fact otherwise it will take up the whole of the front cover also its a bit mundane to keep repeat the bands name as it may become to repetitive for the audience so by making it shorter it makes it more appealing as it seems the artist has been given a new look and style. I have also included a personal section directly from the artist to the fans. I have included this as this is what is expected by audiences as they have paid more money for this special edition product that will go directly to the artist themselves, so in return a personal message that is generic for all audiences seems an appropriate fit and bonding piece of language engaging the artist directly with fans.

Connotations that can be picked up on are the references to drugs in my digipak, these can be seen by the difference coloured bars/stripes which reflect being under the influence of narcotics but is open to the audiences interpretation. Also the idea of fame and the rise to it is seen through the artists perspective of performing on stage, with the personal message reflecting that the artist would not be in his position without his following.

I found by planning my digipak very useful as now I have an outline of what I need to include in the real one, this is on a template basis but also my own ideas as well. This will be very ideal for when I go to create by version of our digipak as I have a clear outline of what needs to be included and also I will not forget any of my ideas and the layout of how I have set up the digipak layout. I know what pictures I need to collect now for use on Photoshop. These include a pictures of Jazz from the back (needs to be cropped, background taken out), a picture of a crowd/audience, and a picture of the location that we are filming in so there is a direct link between Digipak and music video. My planning this has made me aware of the pictures I need and without it I may have had to visit multiple locations at multiple times in order for my ideas to be used on the final product.