The document discusses research conducted on DVD cover design conventions. It analyzed covers for different movie genres and identified common elements like title, spine text, barcode, synopsis, contents list, quotes/reviews, and logos. The purpose of these elements is to attract target audiences through techniques like large eye-catching text, advertising special features, and including endorsements. Research findings showed that while some elements like title and barcode are always present, others are optional, but all work together to effectively market the DVD.

1. DVD Cover Research
By
Muhammad Zeeshan
Zafraan Mahrban
Judah Chandra

2. Beginning
 Before we started to create a DVD cover, we had to know what the codes and
conventions of a DVD cover is.
 We tackled this problem by researching upon the DVD cover and came up with the
result which will be shown in the following slides.
 We used websites such as:
http://www.dvdcoversfuzion.com/
http://www.cdcovers.cc/covers
Below is a JPEG of each website

3. The 300 –
Action Movie
Colour –
Typical to the action movie, the colours red
and black are used immensely due to their
meanings, for example, the colour red
denotes violence, bloodshed and conflict,
thus the use of this colour is relevant as the
movie is an action movie containing scenes
of extreme fighting, blood and gore.
Moreover the colour red is also the colour of
blood and could foreshadow the bloodshed
and violence to come.
Similarly the colour black signifies gloom,
sorrow and pain. This colour is used as the
film is about brave soldiers who lost their
lives. Thus the colour black represents the
death, sorrow and grief. Logo & Accreditations –
Logos and accreditations are minute
Images – Typography – yet essential details within the dvd
cover as they illustrate the institutions
The images within this DVD cover are quite intriguing as they The text upon the DVD cover is relative to the within the production, marketing and
signify the emotions locked within the movie. For example the genre as the colour, fonts and the text denote promotion of the movie.
image of the soldiers, mother and son are devoid of light and violence and bloodshed.
are in low key lighting illustrating the gloom and despair within Structure –
On the front page, the font used for the text “300”
the scene. The structure of the DVD cover is fairly simple as
depicts bloodshed through the font imitating the
While the image on the front page illustrates massacre and effect of blood as it pours out of a body which the images and combined with a text to create a one
blood shed though the use of effects such as the blood splashes has been slashed by a weapon. I believe the specialised structure made to bring the audience as
on the front page which depict death within battle. This is designer did this on purpose to signify the actual the images and the text compliment and support
enforced as the front image is of soldiers falling from the cliff. bloodshed within the film. each other
the image is low key light and it fits in with the genre of the Barcodes are also found on the top of the DVD
While other texts such as “Prepare for Glory” are
movie as the eyes of the audience are fixed upon the soldiers cover. This makes them much more visible and
there to hook the audiences into buying the DVD
falling from the cliffs thus attracting the audience through the could easily tell the price to targeted audience but it
through the use of interesting quotes.
use of relative effects. could also make it easier for the cashier to sell the
DVD to the targeted audience.

4. Imagery –
Structure –
Undercover Brother – The structure of this DVD cover is of
As I have mentioned previously the use of background
and artist images can create humours effects as visible
extreme complex as devices such as run
Comedy Movie around are used to further increase the
efficiency of the structure as it is much
on the front of the DVD cover.
However a similar effect is reached by using the images
Logos & Accreditations – more creative and attractive. within individual frames to accompany text. This is to
Logos and Accreditations are once again found advertise the movie to the audiences as such images are
Moreover as I have mentioned in the
on this DVD cover to ‘accredit’ the relevant designed to match the genre of the DVD cover, in this
previous slide, the text and images
institution. case Comedy.
compliment each other to further make the
Typography – DVD cover much more competent. Structure Part 2 –
The main use of typography within The barcode is also present at the top of A contents list is placed on the back of the DVD
this DVD cover is to attract the the DVD cover. cover. This is placed there to attract the targeted
audience through interesting yet audience through features available within the DVD,
The spine of the DVD cover contains the also text such as ‘SOLID GOLD FEATURES LIKE
simple fonts while the colourful text
title, a logo of DVD and an image of the NO OTHER’ illustrates the exclusivity of the
distracts and also hooks the audience
star persona contents which further attracts the audiences.
into buying the DVD.
Moreover the mix of text fonts used
within the music magazine creates an
interesting effect as the variation is
appealing to the eyes of the audiences.
Moreover reviews from certain
entities which are mainly famous
actors, directors and critics can
enhance the films ratings making it
more efficient at selling the DVD
Cover.
Colour –
The colours used within this DVD do
not signify a lot other than the presence
of the comedy within the movie. This is
evident through a combination of the
images and colours to create a single
effect. For example the front page
background contains fire and fury as
helicopters are seen within raging fires
while the characters are posing without
a worry. This is a classical example of
Comedy thus the reflection of comedy
within the DVD cover attracts the
audience through such humorous ways.

5. Twilight – Fantasy,
Romance
Colour –
The colours such as red, blue and black are ever present
within the DVD cover.
The red is to represent love thus the use of the colour is
quite appropriate to the genre of the movie as the effect
of the red filter. However the use of colour filters on the
star personas creates a link between the actors which the
targeted audience identify as love and romance.
Furthermore the colour black is the dominant colour on
the DVD cover, this gives the film a mysterious
connotations. This effect of mystery can entice the
targeted audience as the fantasy genre can be illustrated
in any way or form, due to this the black is an excellent
choice to create a sense of obscurity within the movie.
This consequently makes a much more efficient
Spine containing the title and
Typography – Imagery –
a DVD logo.
The font of the title quite interesting due to the design. The As I have previously mentioned the images
title is eye catching thus makes it easy advertise the DVD relate ideas together, such as love. This is due to
cover to the targeted audience. the fact that images together create links within Structure –
the mind of the targeted audience. The star The structure of this DVD cover is quite
Moreover as I have mentioned before the mix of the text
personas images together illustrate the a peculiar as the text uses run around while
fonts makes an amazing effect however the simplicity of the
relationship depending upon the body language the images fade making the DVD cover
text on the back of the DVD cover makes it easy for the text
of the artist. much more efficient at creating
to be read.
interesting effects thus increasing the
about of sales.
Also the dominating the front cover aside
from the main images is the Title of the
film. The large size of the text makes it
much more eye catching thus hooking
the targeted audience into the DVD
Cover.

6. Findings
During this research I found that certain codes and conventions are always
present within the DVD cover whilst some are optional. All the codes and
conventions found during research are:
Barcode Title Logos and Accreditation
Spine of the
Synopsis Quotes & Reviews
DVD Cover
Contents List

7. Uses of these codes and conventions
 Title – A large eye catching text to advertise the DVD to the
targeted audience.
 Spine of the DVD – The spine is shown if DVD’s are stacked
together. It contains the title of the film and a DVD logo.
 Barcode – A Barcode.
 Synopsis – A well written piece of text designed to bring the
audiences in and tempt them to buy the DVD.
 Contents List – Contains a list of the contents with the DVD. It is
there to advertise the products to the targeted audience.
 Quote and Reviews – Quotes and reviews are generally interesting
and snappy, written especially to attract the audience.
 Logos and Accreditation – To illustrate the institutions involved
within the production, marketing and advertising of the DVD.