Digipak Layout - Kieran Panchal 9652

Digipak Layout

Cover

In terms of design, the front cover of a digipak is arguably the most important aspect of the product. This is because it is the first part of the product that is seen when it is displayed on the shelf of a store. Immediately, constomers will make assumptions on the product based on the impression that the artwork creates to them. Ultimately, in many cases, being a large contributing factor as to whether or not the product is purchased. There are many conventions generally included on the cover of a digipack:

• Artist's name
• EP/LP/Single name
• Some form of artwork/visual stimuli

Inside Cover

The inside cover refers to the adjacent cover to the CD section when the digipak is opened. This is usually an artist's opportunity to speak directly to the consumer before they listen to the CD, as this is the first thing looked at when the digipak is opened. Many artist's put 'the small print' here. This includes credits to the people involved in making the CD such as producers, studios, labels and additional supporters. Copyright information is also commonly found here. More commonly however, the inside cover is used to display a booklet.

Inner Right Panel

This is where the CD is stored, usually using a plastic mechanism to secure the disc in place, whilst allowing it to be easily 'popped' out. The CD should also be printed on in order to continue the theme of the digipak and ensure that the every aspect of the product looks aesthetically pleasing. The CD artwork is often a variation of the cover artwork and sometimes contains a track listing as a quick reference for those using the CD who may not have the case to hand.

Spine

Although often overlooked, the spine is a very important part of a digipack's design. This is because it is on view when the digipack is stacked with other CD's, either stood up straight or in a pile. It is important that this contains the artist name and the project title, and that it is big enough to be seen from a distance. Similarly to the cover, the spine can be a big influence on whether the product is picked up off the shelf or not, depending on the way it is stacked.

Back Cover

The most important aspect of the back cover is to include the track listing. Conventionally, the name of the track would follow a number (which would refer to the order in which the song appears on the CD). In most cases, the theme of the back cover will be a continuation of the front cover. It is important that there is continuity across the whole product, i.e the same fonts, colour schemes and styles are used in order for the product to appear as one complete piece.