Sanj's Final Digipak

Digipak Journey Sanj

1. Images (1-3) My idea initially started with a simple, clean and efficient house style/ theme. Using a black and white design ensured that a form of class and sophistication was being represented, a feature that I want the artist to present.
The simplicity was also supported through a alternative/ pop theme and music genre. Helping to ensure that the design of my digipak linked together with the video would ensure that both products where successful for their purpose. Conducting further research led me onto a vintage theme, this was through the images that I had found and the music video's that I watched, I felt that this theme would be appropriate for the song that we had chosen for our video providing a middle and balance ground for the indie and pop music genre. It also allowed me to create a unique design that I know would appeal to a wide range of audiences.

2. (Image 4) Our focus for the music video was the dancer that we had included. Switching between the dancer and the artist provided mixture and helped ensure that the audiences attention remained.
This was a heavy part of our research, as finding a song that would work for the routine that we had chosen was difficult, it also had meant that we become reliant upon others rather than ourselves.
My digipak design has contained elements of dance, mainly through its design. The connection between dance would most likely be found in the videos that are produced and the songs that the artist preforms.

3. (Images 5 - 7) Once finding a dancer, we had to find a singer. This was crucial - the artist would appear in both the video and any images that were taken. The model/ artist that we had found was photogenic, confident and had experience working in photoshoots before. As a  professional singer, the person that we had chosen would be prefect for our needs.
When looking at the appearance of our model, we had wanted somebody that looked as much like Birdy as possible. Katie, our model was the best for this.

4. (Image 8 - 9) - Once finding the right outfit, and producing a variety of photos that would work for both mine and Nat's digipak, I was able to base my work around it.
Using previous research from artists such as Jessie Ware, I felt that having a white boarder surrounding my design, would be something that would reflect the music genre and artist that I had created and wanted to represent.
The white boarder, achieved a Polaroid looking effect, something associated with people of my target market, this would therefore entice the buyers while keeping my simple, clean format that I intended to use at first.
Our chosen model, would also reflect the market and music that was being produced. We picked outfits ourselves, and researched clothing that would look professional on the cover of a digipak and presented on a poster. Using shops that our listeners would go to would give us a accurate reflection of what they need.

5. (Images 10 - 12) Wanting to show the representation between the video and the digipak, I feel that including dancers is a good way to show the progression I have made.

6. (Image 13) Here I was able to look at the type of shots that I would wish to use on the panels of my digipak. These where taken from previous research and feature angles that are unfollowed conventions, making it unique and stand out from others.
I quickly became interested in close up's and extreme close ups. I feel that it attracts the audience in a sexualised way, depending on the artists appearance. This is how I have chosen to feature the pop music genre to my design.

7. (Images 14 - 15) Here, I was taking particular interest in the panels that would be featuring for my design. I felt that in order to create a sophiscated impression, the font style would have to be chosen accordingly. This meant I would be considering a sans-serif font that conveyed a more classic and timeless appearance. It also made the font I used easier to read, along with extra spacing making the overall design unified and ahereing to my simple house style.
Creating panels featuring lyrics, is something that is often found - usually in inserts. Having it printed within the case, helps to make my product diffentt from others and lowers the chance of the audience being dismissive of it. It will allow them to gain a greater respect  and understanding of the artist via the songs that are featured.

8. (See Image 8)

9. (Image 17) The research and many steps that I have shown so far have led to the creation of my draft digipak. This was submitted upon the basis that changes would be made in order for to achieve a better looking, and realistic digipak that would be linked together with the artist and the video.

10. Images (18 - 20) Upon receiving feedback from my work, I investigated into more depth about the type of music and digipak that I would be reproducing. Using books and the internet, I was able to find examples of existing work that could be applied to my design. Many included close ups/ and featured a pop music genre, something that drew my interest straight away.

11. (Image 21) Looking at the coursework that I produced last year was a key factor for my new design. The double page spread that I had created during AS contained the simple theme that I wanted to achieve in this new design. Boarders, and a white background was something that I realised I used and saw it easy to reproduce in my own work.
Many of the representations that I had made for my magazine, could now be applied to my digipak, suggesting that I had successfully created the plan that I wanted.

12. (Images 22 - 25) These are the mains steps used that were key for my final design. I ensured that there was a key focus on the pop genre for the artist, and ensured that the design of  the digipak and advert appealed to a indie/ alternative nature.
Using examples of music such as Loud helped me to achieve the look that I was attempting, my final digipak being the result of this.

13. (Image 26) Final digipak.

Digipak Journey Nat

1. My idea started with the hand written signature from Gabrielle Aplin's album

2. This lead me on to looking at particular artist's image I could replicate for my cover, which resulted in me researching into Birdy

3. A black and white theme was something I decided to incorporate into my design a I came across this theme significantly when on Tumblr

4. I researched into lyric booklets and panels to see if they would look good in my design, however I used the idea of having text and tiled this across my three inside panels instead

5. The idea of femenising this digipak played to mind which is why I researched into flower patterns (I ditched this idea after creating my below average draft version)

6. The Jessie Ware album began to make me think about the graphology features of the digipak and where I was going to place everything

7. The idea of an old styled record came into mind when planning my final digipak,as the vintage aesthetic was something which played on my mind from the beginning

8. The piano was something I debated on photographing with my artist for my cover, however I believed it would be too complex for the simplistic edge I wanted

9. Originally we had one female dancer in our video, and I tried to incorporate this in the album, as our single was the major song, however this idea wouldn't have created the correct image

10. After changing from one female dancer to a male and a female, I thought due to the album being emotional filled I could try to use this image to symbolise love. Unfortunately I didn't feel in the end this was necessary

11. I grabbed inspiration for lipstick from this image, as I believed this look would work for my artist, and make her more bold.

12. I used the large back combed hair look from this photo on my artist in the photoshoot, as the pop genre usually contains either big focal points of the eyes or hair to attract the male gaze

13. From this album it inspired me into looking at experimenting with fonts to create a smart aesthetic

14. This image from tumblr inspired me to have a white thick border on my cover, as it creates a neat simple aesthetic

15. The Taylor Swift album cover gave me the idea to thicken the bottom white blocked border to have the artist name. The image used also inspired me, as it was different to normal pop photo conventions

16. The photoshoot allowed me to play around with different camera angles and artist poses to see which worked. I decided to incorporate the Taylor Swift idea, and challenge the conventions of the male gaze

17. I finalised my font to Perpetua Titling which I also happened to use in my music magazine coursework at AS. This was because of its tidy aesthetic

18. I settled on a colour scheme of orange and brown because it was different, but I decided to focus on using colour for my final design as pop albums are mainly vibrantly marketed

19. I researched into autumn leaves as I decided to change my album name to this. It also made me think of how Gabrielle Aplin used the English countryside in her 'English Rain' album

20. I then decided to look into camera angle of leaves (e.g close ups) which would be effective to pan across my three inside panels, as this still created a simple aesthetic

21. My final digipak challenged conventions and met many conventions. I found it a long process of research to come up with my final design, because in my opinion the pop genre is difficult to replicate with a limited budget as it solely revolves around 'the perfect image', because how an artist looks will sell their music

Sanj's Digipak Feeback

Upon receiving feedback from both my digipak and promotional poster/ advert it become apparent that many changed would need to be conducted in order for the products that I've produced to be realistic, efficient for their purpose and produced to the highest standard possible.

The promotional poster/ advert's most significant change is the main image used to promote Katie Jones and her album. When looking at the image I have used, it is apparent that it connotes happiness, innocence and naivety. This can be shown through this type of clothing that she is wearing - a basic printed shirt and the facial expressions and body language that the artist is producing. Using a clear close up/  head shot with basic equipment has resulted in complications, such as a unclear and distorted image during the printing stages and also the limitations that have been made as a result of the image being framed in a particular way.
During research stages, and the research I intend to produce, my digipak and poster appears to be a stern, professional and sophisticated genre. These are mainly through the black and white colour scheme that is often associated with a classic and upper class audience it is also plain and efficient for its purpose, a reflection of the niche style of music that Katie Jones is producing, all of which are contributing factors to the type of persona/ indemnity that I wish to create for my artist.
I intend to meet up, once again with the model that both Nat and I are using. By this point I will have a clear understanding of the type of style that I want to produce in my own work, all of which will be discussed with peers in a hope to seek approval. I will find existing digipaks and images and evaluate my findings, considering how they would be suitable for my work and how they could be adapted to the work that I want to produce.

Once finding a suitable photograph I will  be able to look into the actual design and layout of my work. Finding the image is the current priority of mine, as I feel that my rest of both the advert and digipak would be able to be based around this idea such as the text, layout and overall house style.
I will also continue to reproduce my work in a hope that there is a sense of direction and that the artist and the music that is being represented is reflected through my design and changes.

Sanj's Digipak Draft

Nat's Digipak Draft

Digipak Advert Evaluation

Digipak Analysis

Digipak Analysis

Digipak Advert Inspiration

Digipak Inspiration