Mock Up Digipak

Do's and Dont's!

Do:

• Use a simple font
• Follow genre conventions
• Follow a colour scheme
• Perfect picture and font size
• Make sure something is there to link it back to the company logo, the copyright for example
• Have a barcode
• Be creative!

Don't

• Use unnecessary effects as this could spoil a digipak and make it too over empowering
• Put writing across the artist face, as this ruins the whole point of making a digipak.
• Never stretch images, it ruins the quality of the photo and makes the picture look uneven
• Over use photos to cover up space on each panel. some space is good, it makes it clear and presentable.
• Use silly fonts! people need to be able to read it!

Modebored

I really like the idea of having a simple design. For my ancillary products I plan on having a plain black or grey background and picture of Shannon with spatters/ lines of bright colours in it. I feel this will look really effective and suits the music. It would fit in with with the conventions of my genere as I have been inspired by the other Dubstep/DnB artist i'v looked at.

analysing previous student work

Below shows digipaks from 2 students in the same group. I personally feel the bottom digipak and ad go really well together because of the colour scheme and the fonts. I think the picture used is really good. I'm aware that there were 'Thank you's' inside of the digipak. However, its not long so i didn't mind it. I thought it worked well.

However, the top ad and digipak didn't really seem to work for me. It does not look as professional as the bottom ad and digipak. Also, the front cover and the ad are similar. However, the baxk of the digipak looks completely random. I can see the Do's and Don't checklist could have helped this student. I like how both digipaks are simple.

Analysis of 3 Digipaks- How they relate to my genre

Skream shows him on a DJ mix which is showing he is making his own music. This digipak relates to my Dubstep genre because of the DJ mix. Many young Dubstep artists create their own music and the fans know this. When i look at the digipak i see dubstep straight away. Also, the background is dark and the picture of him is shadowed over him. 

This digipak shows Benga's face from the side. This is great as the audience would need to know what he looks like. artists such as Magnetic man and Andy c are common faces because they have promoted themselves. However, at the time when this Digipak was produced benga's face was on it, to help the audience become familiar with his face. The name is in big letters and is easy to read. Many dubstep artists such as Benga put their face on a digipak for the artist to become familiar with their face. 

(just have to add my opinion in but i feel this picture of Andy c is Lies... He looked fatter when I saw him..Just saying). Anyways, this digipak relates to my genre of dubstep because of the album name for starters 'Night life' and becuase of the bright colours. The background is also very colourful, gives you a club feel. When i look at this digipak i would assume it would be dubstep/ dance like music.

Analysis of 3 Magazine ads- Relating to my genre

NME Magazine

article about upcoming dubstep artists- Taken from Woofah.

From Woofah Magazine

RWD Magazine

Above are 3 magazine ads from RWD, Woofah and NME Magazine. All three relate to my genre as they have a dubstep feel to them. The articles are helping to promote dubstep by informing the audience of upcoming artists. The RWD article in the magazine tells us about their opinions of the music industry today. This is great as it allows us to know their opinions and gives us an insight of how they think and feel. All three magazine ads have bold fonts. The Woofah and RWD Mag is colourful and bright. They all list Dubstep artists. The second image says 'U.S Dubstep' showing that it is big in america and more artists are upcoming. The main concept of the magazine is to show how far dubstep music has become and that the audience for it is becoming larger. 

Researching ancillary product: Summary of Importance and Function around Digipaks.

What is a Digipak?

A Digipak is a modern approach to CD packaging in the 21^st century.

What is the function of a digipak?

Digipaks are important because they help to promote artists and their image. Every artist has an image and a digipak will help to show this image. For example, on the front of a digipak, the artists picture will be there most of the time because it helps the audience to become familiar with the artists. If the artist is wearing an era hat, this could suggest that the artist produces grime music.  That is what I mean when I say a digipak helps to shape an artists image. There will be names of the songs on the back of the digipak to help promote and advertise their songs.

It will also help to show the growth of the artist. Loyal fans will buy all their favourite artists CD’s, because they enjoy looking at how far the artists has come. Some artists change their image to get a bigger audience and when the fans are loyal they follow, so it is interesting to see how artists grow and change their image.

CD’s are more appealing and most of the time has in sights of the artist, which is additional information that the audience will be interested in. Buying a CD also feels more valuable and special because you have spent money on it. It is also nice to have a hard copy, it feels more exclusive, there is loads of artwork and booklets in some digipaks. Overall,  some CD’s can become collectors’ items. When you buy something you want you value you it more. However, when something is free the value of it goes. For example downloading music does not give you everything that the CD does, so it almost loses its value. Therefore, the function of a digipak is very important to the music industry.

Why are digipaks still used despite CD sales dropping?

There is more downloading now than ever before. However, digipaks are used to once again promote the artists. If artists did not have digipaks or advertisements, you wouldn’t know if they have a new album out or not. Also, again loyal fans follow their favourite artists and buy their music. Digipaks are more interesting, people want to collect them and have hard back copies. Also, its trying to combat piracy and the public feel they are getting more from the artist.

How important are the ancillary products (digipaks, advertisments) to the artists and the industry?

The ancillary products are really important for an artist and the music industry as they help the audience to establish an artist. If there were no advertisements for the public to see, then the public wouldn’t know who they are listening to. Advertisements help an artists image and reputation. In adverts you may often hear “number one single”. This helps the artist to get out there and promote their selves to their fullest potential. Ancillary products have a key role to make the artist known, which is why the products are so important.