Digipak Research

By Ellie cook

Digipaks

A Digipak is a patented style of CD packaging- how does it differ from its main competitor, the jewel case?

• Not very durable• Can be difficult to store• Some people find them fiddly• They can inflate the price of the

CD- can be more expensive to make.

• More room for info and extra content

• More scope for graphic creativity

• Similar durability to a jewel case

• They can become collectors’ items

• Easier to recycle

Advantages Disadvantages

The title and a description are prominent in the design.

An age limit is provided, to inform the potential buyer as to the nature of the series, and to guard against younger viewers being mistakenly exposed to explicit content.

The number of discs included is displayed, so the buyer knows what is included.

The BBC logo is displayed, advertising the company the series is distributed by.Very simple

typeface, which is easily recognisable. The bland and bare colour scheme matches the title and theme of ‘the office’, seeming stripped-down and blank- like the stereotype boring office.

Here is an example of a DVD digipak

The digipak includes the pak itself, and an outer dust cover, which aids the durability of the product. The dust cover is almost identical to the DVD case itself, showing that it is simply there to protect the product.

The dust cover includes a small cutaway to the inner box, which makes it much easier for the buyer/user to remove the dust cover in order to use the product.

The unused folds reinforce the idea of the blandness of the workplace with the plain background, and simple outlining of shapes that the audience may associate with an office.

This space is also used to introduce some of the main characters- their relative colourfulness and bold posing sets them apart from the figures in the background. The pose here would not be associated with the workplace, indicating that there is some element of comedy to this programme.

The discs are held in by a plastic case , which adds structural durability to the digipak, and protects the discs more effectively than just the card exterior.

The final disc in the digipak shows all of the protagonists, reinforcing the buyer’s memories of the main characters and the storyline.

The logos from the front of the digipak are repeated on all the discs:BBC logoName of the programmeAge restrictionDVD logo

In contrast, here is a photograph of the jewel case for Nirvana’s album ‘Nervmind’.

The case is standard jewel-case size, and is made of hard, transparent plastic. This protects the CD more effectively than card, but is prone to cracking, as it is less flexible, and more brittle, than card.

The cover art fills the front of the case, whilst the band name and title are smaller, and less obvious. This would appear wrong, as the band name, at least, should be prominent. However, the cover art is so unusual and iconic, that the album is recognisable even without the band and album names.

The artwork on the back mostly matches that on the front, but there is an area of contrast.

Barcode features on the back

Song names and numbers are displayed on the back- this means that potential buyers can see immediately what music is included with the disc.

Production logo and copyright information are included- the copyright info is small, as it is only there for legal purposes, and most customers will not be interested in it.

This is a one-CD case. The artwork on the CD matches the cover art, but the titling is more prominent.

The back of the front cover features a photo of the band- this is poorly lit, and blurred, emphasising the band’s free and individual image. They do not want to be portrayed as manufactured.

The artwork theme continues onto the side of the jewel case, so the CD can be easily recognised and found when stored in a CD rack.

The front cover can be pulled out, and turns into a booklet, featuring song lyrics and photos of the band.

This digipak is from the 2012 BRIT awards.

The colour scheme is the quintessentially British red, white and blue, but also features the union flag, which helps it avoid looking French or American

As well as the British colour-scheme, the soldier-shaped trophy is featured, with the word BRIT written down it

Sponsor is featured on the front cover

A list of some of the top performers and award winners are prominent- as this is not a band CD, but an event CD, people will not automatically know what music may be on it, so it is important to publicise this information.

Inside of the front cover are the thanks, and explanatory notes as to what is included on the bonus disc.

Tells you who the digipak design is by. Also, a list of the companies and charities associated with the 2012 BRIT awards is included

The iconic colour-scheme is continued all over the digipak.

This three-fold digipak contains three CDs- again, one red, one white, and one blue. The BRIT motif is featured on the spare fold.

Each CD is held in by a pocket- this card pocket covers less than half of the disc, and so can serve the dual purpose of holding and displaying the disc, and giving the list of singers and songs on the CD.

Each card pocket has a cutaway in the middle, so that the CD may be safely and easily picked up.

The back fold shows all the names of every singer and song featured in the pack of CDs.

It also features the Studio name and logo.

Copyright information and barcode are also displayed on the back

This is the front cover of the digipak for a Nine Inch Nails album. The cover art is unobtrusive and abstract- it gives no hint of what type of band this is, or what sort of music this CD may contain. The most eye-catching part of the design in the iconic Nine Inch Nails logo. This simple, monochromatic logo has simply been overlaid onto the artwork, but has been partially obscured. At first glance, this may seem like a bad idea, as it seems to reduce the cover’s advertising potential- however, Nine Inch Nails are a ‘underground’ band, who do not like to be seen as part of the mainstream music industry. The partial obscuring of the logo means that only fans will be able to recognise it at first glance, retaining the band’s underground style. Conversely, this tactic also works to intrigue people who have not encountered the band before, and may make them more likely to pick up and look at the digipak.

Partially obscured ‘NIN’ logo

Abstract cover art.

This two-fold digipak uses plastic cases to hold and protect the two discs- again, the artwork is abstract.

The central section of the digipak shows the song names for the CDs.

The artwork on the second CD resembles a person, possibly giving the buyer their first glimpse of the band.

The ‘NIN’ logo is displayed fully on both CDs, as well as copyright information, and studio logos.

The middle section also features a pocket, with cutaways for ease of use, which contains a small and again, plain-looking booklet.

The booklet contains the song lyrics, and more abstract artwork.

Unusually, it is the back of the Digipak which displays the album name. Also, it has a photo on it which is not abstract, as well as the copyright information, studio logos and barcode. This could help first time NIN buyers become interested in the band- they see the ‘identity-less’ cover, become intrigued, and look on the back to see if there is any more information. The small pieces of information which are available keep the buyer’s interest in this seemingly invisible band.

Photo

Album name

Copyright info

Barcode

Studio logos