Ancillary Text Conventions

Digipak - Overview

I have included all of the relevant and necessary conventions of a professional/real digipak, including:

Front Cover:• One main image (or possibly

design), relating to the album or band

• Name of artist/band• Name of album• Eye catching and bold fonts

Spine:• Name of artist/band• Name of album• Serial number• Production company

name/logo• Design similar to front and back

covers

Back Cover:• List of tracks featuring on the

album• Barcode• Copyright information• Linking artwork/colour scheme• Producer/record label logo

Digipak

Front Cover ConventionsI tried to follow conventions of digipak front covers, particularly those centred around the Indie Rock genre but I also think that my narrative and song style influenced the development and creativity in my front cover.

It is generally conventional for the front cover to feature an eye catching image which Is connected to the album/band. This is quite clearly followed in my work were I have featured Kate and Jack on the cover who belong to my band ‘The Common People’, creating a link to the band. The artists also feature in my music video for the song ‘Heads Will Roll’ and the basis for the album creating cohesion within my products. The overlay effect used also makes the image look eye catching as it is not commonly used on album covers therefore it makes my product unique, creating a link with the Indie genre which is known for its differing characteristics. The use of the colour white as the background also creates continuity within the product as this is a frequently used colour throughout my digipak. The role of the front cover image is also mainly to attract customers and encourage them to purchase the product, which I feel this image does.

A major convention of digipak front covers is to feature the album name so that it is easily located in a shop or online for purchasing. This is something I have followed in my work and done in an interesting and aesthetically pleasing format. The placement of the text is quite conventional as it is featured at the top of the page which makes it easy to locate, the off centre placement might be classed as slightly unconventional, however due to the Indie genre of my product I can experiment with such conventions and I believe that this has worked well on my product. The red colouring of the text helps it to stand out from the rest of the page also which again means it is easily locatable for customers. This also helps to produce a colour scheme which runs throughout the product, enhancing the aesthetics. The text used is fairly bold and large which allows it to be eye catching and visible from a distance . The fonts ‘loud’ style also matches the Indie genre quite well. The layout of this section of text is also visually pleasing as the text used for the word ‘heads’ is much larger and therefore jumps out at you and this text is placed above the smaller text in a neat format making it look different to other front covers but still professional.

Another common convention is to feature the band name/artist name on the album cover which I have done on my product. This makes the album easily located by existing fans of the band when they are looking to purchase the album. When experimenting with the style of the album cover I had considered not putting the band name on as I thought that it looked much more professional without however with it being such a major convention I thought that it might be too risky to do so. The placement of the text is fairly conventional due to it being central and towards the bottom however it is less common for it to be placed on top of the image therefore this is something that gives my product a unique characteristic. The grey colour of the text sticks to the colour scheme which runs throughout my products creating both continuity and cohesion. This does mean however that the text does not stand out as much as it possibly could. The text is quite bold and has a dark outline which makes it visible on any of the image colours. The font is very similar to the one used for the album name which again helps to create continuity. The layout of this text is also effective in a simplistic way making it look similar to other front covers and therefore professional.

Back Cover ConventionsA major convention I have stuck to regarding the back cover of my digipak is the inclusion of a Tracklist. I researched and planned the song titles I wanted to use on my digipak so that they all linked cohesively and went with the general style of the album. The placement of the text is quite conventional as it is central to the page, I did this so that it is easy to locate as it is the most important text on the page. The font used is similar to those used on the front cover due to its boldness creating continuity within my products. It is also the largest text on the page which again draws attention to its importance. The black colouring of the text matches the established colour scheme and stands out against the white background. It also has a slight grey outline which helps the text to separate from the dripping blood in the background. The layout of the text is also visually pleasing as the content is centred appearing quite tidy. This also fills a large amount of the page so that it doesn’t look empty and boring, which is again fairly conventional.

It is conventional for the style of the front cover to carry over to the back cover however this differs slightly in my product. The main image I have used is of dripping blood which has no direct relation to the front cover however it does provide a link to my music video which features this prop. This creates continuity throughout my products. I did however stick to using the white background colour used on the cover and the red of the blood links to the red text used for the album title therefore I believe a cohesive style is created through the running colour scheme. The image used has a pleasing aesthetic which provides entertainment but the toned down opacity means that it does not cover the text making it easy to read. Often back covers feature another photo of the artist/ band however I thought this would be quite boring and with my product coming from the indie genre it is a convention to experiment and break such conventions. The purpose of the back cover is to provide more information about the album therefore the use of a simpler image prevents the audience from becoming distracted.

Another essential convention which I have abided by is the inclusion of legal information such as a copyright. Every album has this to protect the artist and therefore is a necessity. I looked at existing albums to see what I should include in this section to make it look as realistic and conventional as possible. The bottom, centre placement of the text and the small print is conventional as although it is essential information it is not very interesting to everyday customers. The font used on this is simple and plain making it easy to read which is essential due to the importance of the information. The text is in a grey/black colour as to still remain cohesive with the overall style of the digipak. This also makes it easy to read against the white background. Similarly to the Tracklist this text is also centred making it look quite tidy and neat adding to the overall aesthetics.

I also included a barcode which is quite an obvious convention necessary to buy the product in any physical store. When researching I found that barcodes are found in various places on the back cover however most of the time they are out of the way of other important features e.g the Tracklist due to the non pleasing aesthetic. The corner placement means that you’re not drawn to it but it is easily located when needed.

I included the record label that my band would be signed to on the back cover as although its not an essential convention it is often found to establish the bands ideologies. The size and placement of this is quite conventional as they’re often not drawn attention to similarly to the copyright information.

Spine Conventions

The spine does not feature much as it is only a small section of the digipak however it is conventional for the band name to feature which is a convention that I have stuck to. This is the largest text on the spine as it is the most important and when stacked alongside other CD’s this is what needs to stand out. The font used is the same as the one used for the band name on the front cover which creates cohesion throughout the album. The font is quite bold so draws attention easily and the use of upper case letters makes it stand out even more. The use of the grey text continues the established colour scheme creating continuity and this is also the colour used for the band name on the front cover which helps to form a signature title for the band. This is because the reinforcement of this styling makes it memorable. The colour also stands out against the white background therefore it generally has a pleasing aesthetic. The placement of the text is almost central which is wear we are automatically drawn to, again highlighting its importance as this is the first thing that we should notice.

Another feature which is conventional on album spines is the album title. This, although smaller than the band name, is in a quite a large text which makes it stand out. The font is the same as the one used for ‘The Common People’ and also the one used for the same text on the front cover, again creating continuity within my product. This text feature the colour red which makes it stand out from the rest of the text on the spine even though it is slightly smaller. The red also helps to develop the established colour scheme as this is the main bright colour used throughout my promotional package. The placement is fairly conventional in the way that it is next to the band name creating a link between the band and album. The layout of this text is the exact same as on the cover making it appear more like a logo than a title. This helps to make it memorable to the audience.

The final convention of album spines which I have included on my design is a serial number. I made this up by looking at other existing products so that I could create a realistic and conventional looking spine. This is a much smaller text and placed at the end of the spine as it is less interesting and important. It is also conventional for it to be found at one end of the spine. The font use for this text is a form of ‘Ariel’ to make it clear and easy to read. This is similar to the font used for the legal information on the back cover. The grey colour used is also a part of the colour scheme I have created which again creates continuity.

Inside Panel Conventions

There aren’t many conventions of the inside panels of a digipak but the main thing is to keep continuity by using the same style as the rest of the digipak. I have followed this convention by using the same white background as used on the front cover, back cover and spine. This makes the album look cohesive and professional.

The images or designs used on the inside panels usually have a link to the band and/or the album. I have done this with my product by featuring the most important band members and also the people who feature as characters in my music video which gives the album continuity with the rest of my promotional package. The images used feature half of the characters faces and when the panels are folded the faces are put together. I did this because I thought it was quite entertaining and provided an interesting aesthetic for the audience. Its also quite unique as it is not something I personally have seen on any albums therefore it compliments the indie genre which strives to be different.

Another thing that I have included, which is not necessarily a convention but is sometimes used by artists, is to feature lyrics of some of the most popular tracks. I filled the empty space on my inside panels by inserting some lyrics from the ‘Heads Will Roll’ song. This fitted well because of the album name being based on this song. I used speech marks to indicate that these are lyrics to people who do not know the song well. I used a script font for this text because it appears more personal and hand written giving the audience a link to the band. It s also quite conventional for lyrics to appear hand written as it links back to when they were first created. I placed the lyrics centrally to fill the empty space but also to draw attention to them.

Disc Conventions

All of the existing CD disks which I have looked at have had differing characteristics but the majority have quite a simple style as they are not particularly paid a lot of attention to. I stuck to this convention as the main attraction to my digipak will be my front cover and so the discs didn’t have to be extravagantly designed. I used the same image on both CD’s with the blood dripping fromthe top of the CD downwards. This provides a direct link to the back cover which features a similar image however I have edited this image so the blood is a much brighter colour so that it stands out. This helps to create continuity with not only the rest of the digipak but also my music video. I think that the simplicity of this image looks effective on a disk as it adds layers where the middle section is cut out. I also included the conventional text that identifies which disc is which. This is an essential feature which helps consumers to differentiate from the normal disc and the deluxe version. I used a simple, easy to read text here and used a blackcolour to make it stand out on the disc. As it is the only text on the discs it stands out without huge effort and serves its purpose on the disc.

Inspiration – Front CoverRae Morris’s album cover for ‘Unguarded’ was my inspiration for my own front cover of my digipak. The main reason for this was due to the style of the main image which I thought looked very effective and stylish. I therefore tried to replicate this overlay effect in my own work but by using both cast members to reflect the narrative. I think this turned out rather well and produced the same level of professionalism as Rae Morris’s album. I did not follow the same conventions as the rest of her cover however as the genre of music does not match my own, therefore they will differ in style. For example I chose to place the album title in the top corner of the page rather than central and I used a simpler and darker colour scheme with red, black and grey being predominant. The fonts I used also tend to be much bolder and ‘loud’ in comparison to the simpler style of Rae Morris's.

Inspiration – Back Cover

The inspiration I had for my back cover came from the front cover of Theme Park’s EP for their single ‘Wax’. I really liked the visual look of the wax running/dripping down the cover and how it linked with the songs name/basis. I considered how I could use this in my own work and decided that the best and most aesthetically pleasing way to do this would be to use the fake blood I had used as a prop to drip down a piece of paper and then photograph the result. The outcome was very good and led me to use the image on not only the back cover but also the CD’s as well. On the example cover I particularly liked how the wax was layered over the top of the text, however when I tried this on my own product I found that too much of the text was covered as the droplets were to thick. With the track list being an important piece of information I decided that covering too much of it would be too unconventional and would affect the professionalism of my product. I therefore decided on using the image in the background and I think that this is still very effective. As the example is a front cover rather than a back cover I obviously did not follow anymore of its conventions.

Magazine Ad - Overview

I have included all of the relevant and necessary conventions of a professional/real magazine ad, including:

• One main image (or possibly design), relating to the album or band

• Name of artist/band

• Name of album

• Release date

• Reviews

• Website information

• Eye catching and bold fonts

Magazine Ad ConventionsA major convention of magazine ads which I have followed is having an interesting and aesthetically pleasing main image. This is often the same as the image used on the front cover of the digipak which is exactly what I have done. I wanted to make sure I had continuity throughout my products and by using the same image I have an obvious link between my products. The image is eye catching and features members of the band which links the band to the music that consumers are listening to. As I said with the front cover the overlay effect used provides an interesting aesthetic which is different to most other products. The white background of the image is continued onto the rest of the ad which helps to create cohesion. As I said previously the main image is very attractive and stylish and fulfils its purpose.

I included a QR code on my magazine ad which takes you directly to a purchasing site when you scan it on your phone. This is not necessarily a convention and is a new technique but shows that my ad is modern and up to date. Although its aesthetics aren’t particularly pleasing (which is the reason for its positioning) it has a practical purpose which benefits the product.

Quite an obvious convention is to feature the band name which I have clearly done and positioned it similarly to on the digipak front cover as to create continuity. I have used the same bold text in the same colour to form a band signature and create cohesion in my products. The placement of this text is not necessarily conventional and is more likely to be found at the top or bottom of the image however due to the indie genre which my package belongs to I have the ability to experiment with these things and be unique.

Another expected essential convention which I have included in my work is the album name which I have done in the same style as on the digipak album cover to create continuity. I used the same font, colour and layout to make it memorable across all products. The text is quite large which draws you to it before the rest of the text. This is also as a result of the red colouring which is bright and attractive. The text is placed below the image which is conventional and seen on many existing products. It is also isolated by two thin lines which shows its importance on the page.

A vital piece of information (and therefore a convention) is the release date. This is found below the album name on my ad which makes it easily locatable. The text I have used it clear to read and in quite a large font so that this information is communicated easily to the audience. It also continues the established colour scheme using the colour black.

I included reviews on my magazine ad which isn’t essential but is used on many adverts and therefore could be classed as a convention. The placement of these helps to fill the page and make it look interesting and informative. The text I used stands out due to its boldness and it follows the colour scheme using grey, red and black. The changing colours on the text help to make it look more entertaining as well as being cohesive.

I also included website information at the bottom of the page which is quite conventional as it allows viewers to do further research into the band if they wish to. The placement is also conventional which means that it is easy to find. It also fills the empty space making the ad look more full and interesting. The font used is very simple and plain which makes it easy to read and it also continues the created colour scheme.

I included ‘Rough Trades’ record label on my ad to give more information to the audience, although this is not a convention it is used by some artists and helps to establish the band. The placement is quite out of the way but it is still an effective part of the ad.

Inspiration – Magazine AdThe inspiration I got for my magazine ad came from a few places but mainly The Vaccines poster for their album ‘What did you expect from the vaccines?’ and Florence + the Machines album poster for ‘Lungs’. I originally really liked how the vaccines text had been placed over the top of the main image however when I tried this on my own ad I didn’t think it looked visually pleasing. I instead chose to place the band name over the top of the image like I had done on the front cover of my digipak, creating cohesion. I therefore ended up laying my magazine ad out similarly to Florence + the Machines, having the image cover a large amount of the page with the majority of the text surrounding it. I used a similar styling and layout of text for the album name and release date using lines to separate the album name from the rest of the text. I also made this text of the album name quite big like on Florence's as this is an important piece of information. I then went back to using The Vaccines style for the reviews and website information at the point as when viewing them I thought they stood out and had quite a large impact. On my own product I also included the record label logo that my band would be signed to and also a QR code as I thought that these would help to make my product look modern, realistic and also professional.