This document provides guidance for students on drafting designs for a CD cover as part of an advanced portfolio class. It instructs students to start creating design ideas and sketches for their practical work. Tips are provided on being creative, following conventions of real CD covers, taking time, and considering the target audience. Students are told to create 3 pencil sketches showing the front, back and spine, and to experiment with different ideas, labeling them 1-3. Finally, it discusses levels of planning and finishing the final design to a high standard.

1. Unit G324: Advanced Portfolio:
Drafting
CD Cover
23rd September

2. You now need to start creating some design ideas for
Tips for doing well:
your practical work.
• Be creative. Be aware that you need to make it but make sure
it’s creative. Use your imagination!
• Follow the conventions of a ‘real’ product. If it is meant to be a
advert/CD cover make sure it looks like one!
• Take your time. Don’t just scribble down anything that pops
into your head in biro. Use a pencil, a ruler for straight lines
and make sure that the examiner will know what it is going to
look like.
• Think about your audience. How will you appeal to them?
What will you do to ensure they buy your product/CD?

3. Your Drafts
Create 3 PENCIL sketches of your initial ideas
 Front, back and spine
 Check your list of CD conventions
 Look at the example CDs
 Experiment with a variety of ideas
 Label your designs 1,2, 3 and final.

4. Level 1 (E)
There is minimal evidence of planning

5. Level 4 (A)
There is excellent planning

6. What is the
difference?

8. You now need to start creating some design ideas for
Tips for doing well:
your practical work.
• Be creative. Be aware that you need to make it but make sure
it’s creative. Use your imagination!
• Follow the conventions of a ‘real’ product. If it is meant to be a
advert/CD cover make sure it looks like one!
• Take your time. Don’t just scribble down anything that pops
into your head in biro. Use a pencil, a ruler for straight lines
and make sure that the examiner will know what it is going to
look like.
• Think about your audience. How will you appeal to them?
What will you do to ensure they buy your product/CD?

9. Title of the album in a London
Underground sign implies that
the artist is from London and
that this is central to his lyrics
Sports car- show that he is
wealthy
Typography in gold implies
that he is rich. His name is
written in a very large font on
the page, this implies that he
has high status.
Clothing is modern and
urban. Dark glasses and cap
signifies that he is mysterious
The setting is urban
which gives us a sense
that the star has come
from very little and
worked his way to
wealth
Background: looks like a forest of
guitar necks. This implies that the
music will be played mainly on
guitars. This also relates to the
name ‘The Forest’.
Typography: The tall writing
emphasises the height of trees in
a forest to highlight the name
Colour scheme: red black and
white- colours you would typically
associate with the rock genre.
Clothing: dark and casual which
could imply that they are
mysterious but also not too
bothered by their appearance

10. Things to remember:
• This is your final design so should
look exactly as your final piece
will.
• Use colouring pencils, fine liner
and ruler to ensure it has an
excellent level of finish.
• Annotate if necessary to aid
understanding.
• Ensure you have all the
conventions of a CD cover on
there.
• Be aware of the dimensions, get
them right!
If you need to, take it home to finish it.