This document analyzes the design of a digipack album by Jay-Z and Linkin Park. It discusses the use of graffiti-style fonts, splattered paint effects, and a limited color palette of blue, black, and white throughout the packaging. Key elements include bold lettering and illustrations in place of photographs. The design focuses on typography and layout over images to create a simple yet eye-catching package that effectively conveys the rap/R&B genre through its style.

1. Jay Z –LinkinPark
1) The middle coverhasthe feelingof gangsterreputationwhichisrepresented asconventions
of the rap and R&B music genre. This is displayed by the graffiti style writing and layout as
thought the font has been sprayed onto plain background. The colours that are used are
mainlybasedaroundblue,black,andasmall use of white.Thesecoloursgiveconnotationsof
a chilled out life with blue having calming features, but with the black and white being in
contrasttothe use of the blue.The Blackandwhite give thebackcoveramore edgyandrustic
feel withthe coloursworkingwell togetherandcomplimentingeachother.The wordingused
issimplistic,butthe layoutof the writingitselfcreatesamore puzzlingeffectforthe audience
as some letters are seenplaced in an opposite position as usual. There is a small box that is
used to show initials and code of the album, and large writing to grab attention, however
because it is in the middle of the album pack there is less emphasis on the selling of the
product.The fontthat isusedisurbanand rusticto representthe genreof rapmusicwiththe
font being bold and black to stand out in the middle. There is not any use of images as the
effect that has been created is bold enough to grab attention, which also creates a more
individualistfeel.The layout/designisfairlysimple withthe writingbeinginthe centre of the
section, with there being minimal illustrations.
2) The back cover of the digipackis has more detail and showsthe conventionsof the rap/R&B
genre due to the use of splattered paint and illustrative features that match those of street
art andgraffiti.The coloursusedstay the same for thissectionas well,withtheirbeingause
of white, black and blue which all complement each other when it comes to not having one
colour standing out more than another. There is a large use of white with a splatteredpaint
effect to which the font is then positioned on top. The font used is a lot smaller with their
being a lot of information presented to the audience. This includes informationsuch as the
1 2 3
4 5 6
Outside of Digipak
Inside of digipak

2. tracksthat are includedwithinthe album,liveperformances,DVDvideosandspecialfeatures.
There isalsothe use of aparental advice stickerwhichshowsthe targetaudience isof ahigher
age which matches conventionsof rap/R&B music. The font that is used is similar to that in
the middle of the outside album. There is the use of both bold and not bold writing, all of
whichis in a simple fontwithno fancy edges,followingconventionsof thisgenre.There are
no images,withthe focusbeingonthe information.The design/layoutissimilarof thatof the
middle section, with there being a large use of graffiti.
3) The front cover of this digipak is very detailed when it comes to making sure that rap/R&B
genres are being met and shown. There is a large use of graffiti when it comes to the front
coverwhichalso showsthe genre towhichthe audioisbasedon.It includesthe conventions
of a CD cover as it has most of its detail based at the front, with more than half of the bold
writing also being at the front, this is typical of an album cover and follows the modern
conventions.Itleavesoutthe typical conventionsof imagesbeingused,withthe artistsface
being most commonly on the front. With this being absent it shows how this digipak is
subverting stereotypes of the advertising of this product. The colours used again include
white, black and blue and this means that there is a use of smoothlycontrollingthe colours
acrossthe whole of the digipakto maintainaprofessional feel. Thewordingisrelativelysimple
withjustthe name of the albumand the artist’sname beingthe centre of attention/focused
on writing. There isonce againnota use of imagessuchas photographshoweverthere isthe
use of illustrationsthathave beendrawnandlateraddedtothe coverwithacomputersystem
such as Photoshop to add an artistic feel, increasing the interest in the cover and making it
marginallydifferenttothose othersectionsof the digipak.The designis more integratedthan
those previouslyandmore eye catching/attentiongrabbingthanthe othersectionsto make
it obvious to the consumer that there should be a section that is more focused on etc.
4) Thissectionof the digipakintegratesall of the ideasthroughoutthe outsideof the pack,with
the same use of colours and design/layout to keep the pack running smoothly and be
aestheticallypleasingtothe audience.The wordingisfairlysimple forthis part as it is not as
attentiongrabbingorasimportantforthe audience asitdoesnotobtainanyvital information.
There are still conventionssuchasspraypaintandgraffiti style whichdemonstratesthe genre
of the music.The font once again isbold and blockcapitalswithsome lettersbeingreversed
to look more street and urban to the audience.
5) This side of the digipak is more illustrative and demonstrates the detail that needs to be
includedwithinthesealbumstomake the audience feelhappyaboutitandalsohelpthemto
appreciate the professional finish that has been shown here with this example. The
illustrationsare there toreplace theuse of imagesbutare still abletoaddthe effectanimage
wouldhave onthe audience.These illustrationsare createdinwhite andblackwhichisusing
the original colours used elsewhere within this promotional bundle. There is not any writing
as the focusisto be on the storage optionof a CD whichcontainsbonusandspecial features
from the artist through the production stage.
6) The lastsectionisthe holdallforthe CD1whichcontainsthe artist’stracksingreatqualityand
this isdone witha large use of dark blue.But withthe additionof redto show that thispart
of the digipakisvital whensatisfyingconsumerneeds.The illustrationscontinue aroundthe
outside of the piece of mediawiththe coloursbehindcontrastingthatonthe frontof the CD
to emphasise the presence of the CD to the audience.
I have decided to evaluate this digipak as it is similar to that of many from my music video
genre, with graffiti and little prettiness but bold and a small use of colour.