Research and Planning - Digipak - Drafts of Digipaks

During these few lessons, as a group we have been designing drafts for a potential final digipak. We done this to ensure that we gained positive and negative feedback from our teacher to eventually create a successful final digipak.

Draft 1:

Analyse your use of conventions using PEER

• I have included an image of the main artist on each cover who is looking away from the camera, she is wearing all black which is captured through a medium close up shots and medium shots. This is conventional as it makes the artist look mysterious and unknown to the audience. 

• The title of the album is 'Reaction' which highlights the differing nature of the album and artist which will evoke a reaction from the audience.

• Low key lighting and dark colours including reds, purples  and blacks have been used on the each cover to reflect the dark and mysterious atmosphere and mood. This is conventional as it encourages the audience to want to find our more, making them want to buy the album. 

• The mysterious nature is further reinforced through the typography which differs and contrasts with the dark colours as it is white promoting the artists innocence and vulnerability. This is also conventional as it is expected for the typography to reflect the mood and the artists persona through the colours and shapes. 

• The overall layout is neat and consistent as the information is spaced out revolving the main image. This is conventional as it draws in the audience to the digipak. The layout is also simple as it only includes simple information. 

• The information I have included on the digipak includes the title of the album on each cover expect the inside cover which is simply of the artist, in order to reinforce the name allowing the audience to memorise it. On the back cover however, there is a list of singles that will be on the album, a barcode and a parental advisory lyrics label. 
• The language I have used is simple and lacks formality as I want the audience to be  able to relate to the album and artist and be able to understand that it is aimed at them which is conventional as the information should reflect the audience and their social class. 

• The sub images I have included on the covers also promote the artists unique nature as she is looking away from the camera and is intrigued in her activity. 

• Adorno and popular culture- The digipak goes against hegemony as it goes against conventions appealing more to a niche audience. The images of the artist also resits conventions as the female artist is dressed as a character and does not look relatable to the target audience or like a role model. According to Adorno's popular culture theory, the digipak is targeted at 'The masses' as the genres within the album include alternative R&B, hip hop and electronic which is not appealing to the 'bourgeoise', also, the digpak reflects this through its modern and urban look. 

• Through this digipak, NYX is promoting her differing ideologies and values as she is dressed against conventions which is supported by her body language. 

• Hebdige's subcultres : The digipak goes against hegemony suggesting that it may not appeal to a mainstream audience due to the dark mood created through the dark colours. 

Audience Feedback: Katie- 19

What do you like about it?

• Front cover

- The title is clear 
- Looks consistent to the rest of the campaign 
- Artist image is relatively clear 

• Back cover

- The image is complementary of the front cover 

- Most of the conventions are evident 

• Inside cover

- Edited well, enhancing the star image. Consider using the same editing technique on all the covers

• CD insert

- Good image, all images work well with eachother

What did you not like about it?

• Front cover

- The artist looks lost within the image
- The lighting is to dark 

• Back cover

- The artist looks lost in the image and therefore the star image needs to be enhanced

• CD insert

- The artist looks upset in the image, so consider changing the image.
- The editing technique looks different to the one used on the inside cover and the one used on the inside cover should be the one you go with. 

How can it be improved?

• Front cover

- The artists name needs to be put onto the front cover
- The layout of the title and spacing needs to be reconsidered 
- Parental advisory logo should be put onto the front 

Back cover

- The title does not need to be repeated onto the back cover 
- Typography of the songs should be consistent with the tile 
- One more song should be added to the track list 
- Production details need to be added onto the back cover

CD insert

- The title does not need to be included on the CD cover


Draft 2:

Analyse your use of conventions using PEER

• I have included an image of the main artist on each cover wearing all black which is captured through a medium close up shots, medium shots and medium long shots. This is conventional as it makes the artist look 

• The title of the album is 'Reaction' which highlights the differing nature of the album and artist which will evoke a reaction from the audience.

• Dark colours including purples and blacks have been used on the each cover to reflect the dark and mysterious atmosphere and mood. This is conventional as it encourages the audience to want to find our more, making them want to buy the album. 

• The mysterious nature is further reinforced through the white, bold typography which differs and contrasts with the dark colours as it promotes the artists innocence and vulnerability. This is also conventional as it is expected for the typography to reflect the mood and the artists persona through the colours and shapes. 

• The overall layout is neat and consistent as the information is spaced out revolving the main image. This is conventional as it draws in the audience to the digipak. The layout is also simple as it only includes the vital information that is necessary. 

• The information I have included on the digipak includes the title of the album on each cover expect the inside cover which is simply of the artist, in order to reinforce the name allowing the audience to memorise it. On the back cover however, there is a list of singles that will be on the album, a barcode and a parental advisory lyrics label. 
• The language I have used is simple and lacks formality as I want the audience to be  able to relate to the album and artist and be able to understand that it is aimed at them which is conventional as the information should reflect the audience and their social class. 

• The sub images I have included on the covers also promote the artists unique nature as she is looking away from the camera and is intrigued in her activity. 

• Adorno and popular culture- The digipak goes against hegemony as it goes against conventions appealing more to a niche audience. The images of the artist also resits conventions as the female artist is dressed as a character and does not look relatable to the target audience or like a role model. According to Adorno's popular culture theory, the digipak is targeted at 'The masses' as the genres within the album include alternative R&B, hip hop and electronic which is not appealing to the 'bourgeoise', also, the digpak reflects this through its modern and urban look. 

• Through this digipak, NYX is promoting her differing ideologies and values as she is dressed against conventions which is supported by her body language. 

• Hebdige's subcultres : The digipak goes against hegemony suggesting that it may not appeal to a mainstream audience due to the dark mood created through the dark colours. 

Audience Feedback: Amy- 20

Strengths:

- Front cover: 

• They liked that the title is clear , looks consistent to the rest of the campaign and the artist image is relatively clear 

-Back cover: 

• The image is complementary of the front cover and most of the conventions are evident 

- Inside cover:  

• Edited well, enhancing the star image. Consider using the same editing technique on all the covers

- CD insert: 

• Good image, all images work well with each other.

Weaknesses: 

• Front cover

- The artist looks lost within the image and the lighting is to dark 

• Back cover

- The artist looks lost in the image and therefore the star image needs to be enhanced

• CD insert

- The artist looks upset in the image, so consider changing the image.

- The editing technique looks different to the one used on the inside cover and the one used on the inside cover should be the one you go with. 

Draft 3:

Audience feedback: Sam: 21

Strengths: 

- All panels are consistent and reflective of one another

- Good use of image manipulation

- The artist has been represented in a clever way as she poses differerently. 

- I like the way the inside image is portrayed in an effective way as the artist name is made up of a collage of images of the artist. 

Weaknesses: 

- Inside panel should outline name with more images of artist

- Consider removing name from the back cover and CD insert cover.

- The skeleton should be changed, with a different colour of effect placed on it. 

Conclusion:

The drafting process has allowed us to create our final digipak which has been due to us receiving numerous feedback on each draft, and applying the changes to each cover in order to make it as effective and conventional as possible. Some of the main changes we made included the images we took of the artist, as we realised that the images we took were too dark and did not enhance the star image to the standard that was necessary. We also changed the background of each panel to make it more mysterious and effective.  Without the drafting process, we may not have been able to make our product as effective due to not understanding or identifying small things that has an impact on the quality of the digipak.