Digipak Analysis

‘Carry On The Grudge’ by Indie rock artist Jamie T, released in 2014. The design uses lots of black and dark/eerie images, with a recurrent theme of shadows.

Front cover, plain black with album name placed on top. This simply informs us of the artists and album. The image is of a painting of a breastfeeding woman. It’s not clear why he used this but it could be a reflection of adulthood, or referencing current breastfeeding issues in the media.

The back cover, the same font used on the front. The font has a style that work with the darkness of the design and the use of the painting which looks old.

The CD design is the same as the front cover, without the image. This may be a reflection of the music, which has been described as ‘emotional and reflective’.

An image of a shadow in a dark staircase. Again, this may be linked to the music in the album, some of which is dark and emotional. It also work with the black front cover, cd and back cover

Another dark staircase image. Like the other image, it suggests the type of music.

This image is slightly different, its quite grainy and abstract. We can imply from the other images that they are from an old house, and this one looks like it may be a window.

I forgot where we were, by Indie Folk artist Ben Howard, released in 2014. The outside design is simple, with black and whites. Inside is more loud and vibrant, using red, whites and blues.

Front cover, an image of the artist but the portrait has been distorted by layering it. His face isn’t explicit but is recognizable for Ben Howard fans. The images inside the album have been distorted this way as well.

One of the cd’s. A pattern of flowers that have been layered with different colours, which have also been used in the other album images.

Back cover, similar to the front. A simplistic design with no track listing. It may be the artist doesn’t find this key to his music and would rather the consumer wait until the open the cd and play it to discover the songs.

Inside image of distorted, colourful flowers. The style is similar to a 3D effect. This distortion style is followed through the whole inside of the digipak. The use of the distorted can reflect the album title ‘I Forget Where We Were’, it reflects confusion the same as the image looks.

The main CD. The title and artists name is placed in middle but the house style is still there on the sides. The black and white has remained, the same as it is on the front and back covers.

Another image that follows the house style. The only difference with the image is the angle it’s taken at.

The front cover shows patterns with colours of red, white, grey and black. These colours are easily recognizable as they’re the colours the duo use (one has red hair) and they wear a lot of red and black. Therefore, the colours are associated with the duo. There are also no images of the band, they may feel there’s no need for this as they want to be recognized by the colour theme.

The back cover shows the track listing with random lines. Twenty One Pilots logo uses lines, and we can see them on the CD disc and on the front cover. This is another association with the duo. There’s only two colours used, so it’s quite simple.

The CD disk also has the colour and the line theme. The white straight line represents the drummer and the red line, the singer. They have used lines as their identities instead of themselves. This may be significant of their mental illnesses.

One of the inside designs is an abstract piece of art. This may represent their mental illnesses (a filled up mind) which is also shown through their song lyrics. The title of the album is called ‘blurryface’ which could be linked to the art used as blurry and abstract are unclear.

Blurryface by alternative hip-hop duo Twenty One Pilots. The main theme uses red, black and white with abstract designs, reflecting the members mental health.

Front cover, includes an image of a country shop, which links to the indie folk genre. In the window, is the band who appear as mannequins. It’s a subtle way of showing them as a band. The bands name and album title is placed at the bottom in a black text, standing out against the white floor.

The back cover, following the same theme as the front cover and house style. The track listing is placed below the window. The lines that separate the tracks follow the lines used on the front cover and the CD disk.

Just a plain design with a tiny design in the middle. A design we would associate with the indie folk genre.

This image follows the style of the front and back cover. Again, the band members have been place in the image. They’re holding their instruments which are the main instruments used in their music. It also reflects the indie folk genre as typically indie folk artists have a passion for their instruments.

The CD disk. The design is the same as the one on the opposite side, an indie folk design reflecting the genre. The same font used throughout. The cream colour stands out against the black disk.

Digipak for Mumford and Sons ‘Sigh No More’, the genre is Indie Folk. The digipak uses light, beigey colours and uses a building and windows as the main theme.

Inside of the digipak. We see the artists stretched against a bed of roses. The red roses connote beauty. This shows beauty and vibrancy, this is associated with Rihanna’s image as she is seen as a beautiful woman. The music in this album features ‘up-tempo’ music, the vibrancy of this design can reflect this.

The front cover is a close-up of Rihanna’s face who has red hair and red lipstick. These colours are the same inside the digipak. Her beauty is emphasized here, attracting the audience and showing the importance of her looks to her overall image.

The artists name and album cover is in a thin, white font. It doesn’t draw away from Rihanna’s face but is still clear to see against Rihanna’s skin tone.

The two discs, of roses which is part of the house style. The colour is more of a light pink which contrasts against the colours on the disk holders. The flowers are quite feminine, which runs along with everything in the digipak.

The back cover, using similar colours to the disks, with the light pink feminine colours. IT shows Rihanna in a soft lighting, reflecting the emotional songs on her album.

Loud by pop artist Rihanna, the digipak uses pinks and blues throughout. This connotes beauty and feminism. It also reflects Rihanna’s image which is a desirable, pretty woman.