ALBUM ART/DIGIPAK SECONDARY RESEARCH

PSOMA DESIGN GROUP

Michael Scotney

INTRODUCTION For my next piece of research into digipak/album design I decided

to take primary research into examples from a current professional design group.

So I went on http://www.psomadesign.com/albumart.htm and checked out the examples of their work while analysing a number of factors regarding all of these designs and whether or not I found them effective and why. It also contains full Digipak design which my other research has not shown so this research is important.

EXAMPLE 1 – JASON MASI – LIFE IS WONDERFUL

What impressed me with this design is the use of colour schemes. The simple rusty red/orange colour, with white text and the black/white gradient really works as a colour scheme and makes the whole Digipak integrated as a whole.

The right inside panel of the Digipak to go behind the CD features a great piece of innovation. It clearly fits the artists’ personal/emotional music style and image, with a hand-written lyric sheet making the lyrics seem more meaningful. It also features great technological innovation through a link to a page displaying the albums lyrics in red and bold black typography.

The black and white image of the artist on the left inside panel links to the star image theory – as he wants the audience to put a face to the music (increases recognition).

EXAMPLE 2 – MUKAGEE – WHAT YOU SEE The instantly striking aspect of the

Digipak/album cover is the darkness. This is clever as it reflects the rock/metal genre of their music and the ‘dark’ lyrical themes within.

The front cover itself is very effective. It is a photographic image with heavy manipulation which from my other secondary research I have learned is used throughout. The angle is an interesting low angle with the mud and dirt in view – perhaps reflecting dark nature of music. The manipulation makes the image enticing to the eye – an obvious aim of the cover. The audience is intrigued by the hand appearing from the light and so is very effective.

Again the typography is distinct and fits the tree – a main focus of the image, with its crooked nature again displaying the dark themes, which is also reflected on the silhouette of the disc itself. So, in my opinion the cover is very effective.

EXAMPLE 3 – LOST SATELLITES – WORLDS COLLIDE The first thing I think is really effective about

this Digipak design is the almost watercolour texture and gradient across the design – from hazy white with tinges of the navy through navy and dark navy works very well as a contrast between the light and the dark (space theme)

The card on the right panel of the CD cover tray is also effective with a child's illustration of aliens which links to the lyrical theme of the album and the little boy featured on the front cover which is interesting in itself.

The best element is the spacing and arrangement in my opinion. The boy is central in the shot but contextually small, staring towards the bright light and looks vulnerable with the dark nature of the colour texture creating a unsettling image.

Also important is the typography of the songs featured on the album at the bottom of the back panel – a theme throughout the examples I have looked at which I feel is key to look to include in my project.

OTHER EFFECTIVE THINGS FOUND THROUGHOUT THE PAGE

One of the other effective panels from the Digipaks was the Dooley Noted – ‘Edible Inaudibles’ photographic album cover with a high quality extreme close up of a strawberry with a guitar pick placed in it. While the cover is quite random, the colours of the perfectly ripe strawberry and the guitar pick complement, as well as with the background to make a pleasing visual combination and attract attention.

The McGuffin ‘Like you I once was’ back cover panel has interesting typography with different sizes and degrees of bold text. This makes it stand out more and so the audience pays it attention.

Stacy Koviak’s ‘Time to fly’ album cover and back has a unique string design making out as a wrapper for the album which is an innovative addition that helps it feel more valued. The contents of the back cover is also very important for my project with the barcode, credits for design/production team, record company and CD type recognition.

EVALUATION All of the information in this presentation will be very helpful in helping plan my

album cover/digipak. From clever colour schemes to innovative techniques such as the lyric notebook or the string packaging, the research has given me lots of creative ideas and things to keep in mind when planning the project. For example, I will try to include 3 main colours as a theme throughout the design which I have seen helps make album covers more effective (if with a suitable design).

Its also given me important information on what to include (e.g record company name, website link of band, lyrics link, barcode, song titles, producer/designer credits etc).

So overall, although not specific research as most covers were not from my songs genre (metal this primary research has been one of the most helpful research sources I have looked at for the creation of my digipak/album art.