2. Digipaks are a printed card packaging that is often used for CDs. The digipak, is
the same form and size as a standard CD case and it is made from cardboard.
Discs are held in place via plastic trays, which are glued into the digipak.
Different Types Of Digipak
4 Panel Digipak
It is the standard 4 panel CD digipak and has replaced the Jewel case in terms of
popularity for albums.
3. 6 Panel Digipak
The 6 Panel has an extra panel allowing to position the tray on either the centre
panel or the right-hand panel.
Paperfoam CD Digipak
Paperfoam Tray packaging substitutes the plastic flexi trays with a 100%
biodegradable tray.
4. To Include In The Digipak
• Album name
• Artist name
• Album Song List
• Barcode
• Record label
• Copyright label
• Artwork
• Disk Holder
• Possibly some lyrics
5. Rae Sremmurd “SremmLife” Digipak Analysis
This digipak front cover in
regards to design is based on
“less is more” style. It is
unconventional design due to
design simplicity and basic
information that provides. The
most prominent features are
two half portraits that are
positioned on right and left
side. The portraits show artist
duo looking directly at us. The
two close up shots of both
artist placed next to each other
adds intimacy to the cover and
grabs audience attention. Due
to artistes hairstyle we can
connote music genre as well as
their ethnic background and
attitude. In addition we can
read their portraits as a unity
that is based on equality in
regards to their music
involvement.
As a focal graphical element
the parental advisory logo is
placed in the middle of the
lower third. This was
intentionally done in order to
provide information to the
audience and to attract
attention. Besides informational
purposes this logo is at the
same time used as a selling
point, because it defines the
type of music this duo is
performing.
Artists names are placed
above each image in
contrasting fonts. This design
tactic was used to define each
artist as individuals in their own
right. The use of red color
makes their names more
noticeable and eye-catching.
The symbolic meaning of red
color suggests the artists bad
boy attitude. The fonts are
urban free form associated with
street graffiti art.
In contrast to conventional hip-
hop and rap music design
elements included on this front
cover, the use of white
background can be considered
as unconventional and it can
interpreted on different levels.
Firstly, the white background
makes all other features more
noticeable and secondly, the
background suggests the artist
clear conscience and free
spirit.
6. In contrast to simplicity of the
front cover, the back cover is
more complicated and in
regards to design conventions
it is more conventional. The
focal visual elements are back
of the artists head placed on
each end of the back cover. In
terms of design unity it works
well with the front cover.
Connotation of both images are
the same as I have pointed out
while analysing front cover.
The other focal point that
attracts audience attention is
the album songs that are listed
with their numeric numbers.
The songs listed are center
aligned and they work well
with images on the both sides.
The songs are written in capital
letters in a formal clear font.
This makes it easier for the
audience to quickly navigate
through song list.
In order to achieve design
continuity and harmony in the
same typography and size the
producers and record label
names and logos are center
aligned and are placed below
listed album songs. The record
labels logos belong into
pictorial and textual logos. The
logos are graphically simple
and are visually noticeable.
Additional features included on
this back cover are barcode
placed on the right-hand side
and textual box placed on the
left-hand side. Both elements
are in a line with FBI warning
note and FBI anti-piracy logo.
Overall this design visually
communicates with the front
cover in terms of simplicity and
easy navigation.
Besides two colored images
most features included on this
back cover are in black and
white. This makes this overall
design simple but stylish.
Additional essential elements
included on this back cover
provide necessary information
in regards to legal
requirements, such as: anti-
piracy warning and FBI
warning logo.
7. In contrast to plain, light and
simplicity of the front and back
cover the CD design is more
dominant and vibrant.
The focal point that attracts
audience attention are artist
back and front full face images.
The images again in contrast to
realistic images that are
featured on the front and back
cover are digitally manipulated
and enhanced. The images are
similar to stencil style graffiti
print. This art style is
associated and linked with
urban street lifestyle that is
usually part of sub-culture. In
terms of visual depiction those
images represents anti-
establishment attitude that is
largely part of rap and hip-hop
music scene. Featuring front
and back of both artists, design
wise the portraits are linked
with outside digipak design.
The same typography as well
as artist tag names are used on
the CD disk as on front digipak
design. Besides creating
uniformed look and feel those
design elements are essential
design convention.
Additional features included on
the CD disk are producers and
record label logos. This is
common part of standard
design specification.
To achieve design unity and
harmony the red color is used
as a background. The red color
is associated with danger and
power, as well as love and
passion. This design decision
together with manipulated
portraits was purposely done in
order to suggest contrast
between inner and outer,
negative and positive, light and
dark, etc.
8. The inside panel shows long
two shot of artists. The image
look and feel design and
metaphorical meaning is in
drastic contrast to above
analysed digipak segments.
The image of artist goofing
around and playing with
vibrantly colored balloons is not
common for this music genre,
especially due to explicit lyric
content. On the other hand this
image is more expected to be
used in more light and
mainstream type of music such
as pop. I have to pint out that
even artist body language and
choice of costume are not
common for rap and hip-hop
music genre. The care free
attitude and modern, trendy
suite worn in a casual smart
way is more expected for
member of boy band.
Information about the various
tracks on the album including
the details belonging to the
production teams of the
particular songs are in top and
bottom corner. The is clear and
easy to read due to white
colour that stands out against
the background. The text
elements are position in corner
so that do not overshadow the
images. Each panel features
artist in their party mode. Again
metaphorically both images are
in contract to simple and formal
design of the outer digipak .
