Digipacks are a type of CD packaging, that can flip open like a book, or it can have
three parts, so that one portion of the packaging opens to the right and one to the
left, with the CD in the center portion. It differs from an album cover as it usually
includes bonus digital features such as videos or interviews of the artist and it gives
the option to fit more than one CD.
DigiPaks are designed to fold into a square CD case. They can fold many different
ways and can have a varying amount of panels. The front and back panels are the
main ‘promoters’ of the CD and are very much used to draw in the customers. The
inside of the DigiPak is used more for information to do with the
artist/song/album. The theme of the inside packaging normally is more subtle
compared to the outside packaging. The cardboard/paper folds around the plastic
case which secures the disc in place.
The front of DigiPaks tend to have a large eye-catching picture on them, something that really
sells what the band are about and need what their album is about. The picture illustrated on the
front panels tends to have some relation to the songs or artist. The song/album title is also found
on the front panel, this is something that my band, Overexposed will be doing in our creation of
our Digipak.
On the back of the Digipak there tends to be the Artist/Albums name Tracklist
Barcode Album Artwork Record Label Extra Information. The back cover tends to be
more informative than aesthetically pleasing as the individual or bands fans will at
some point need to know what songs are on the album for sales purposes.
Typically you would expect to find the name and photos of the artist throughout the
Digipak, as well as a list of songs that are in the album. Furthermore, depending on the
type of artist, it could contain things like images that relate to their branding (Black and
White themed images for the 1975), a lyric book, a written interview with the artist,
exclusive photos or possibly a getting to know you page where the separate band
members or the individual artist explains the journey they've been on or what inspired
them to make the album.
DigiPaks come in all different styles and designs. They vary in
artwork, number of panels and types of fold. These are a few
examples which demonstrate this as such:
There must also be a strong connection and continuity present throughout the
Digipak in order to allow the target audience to fully understand the themes and
mood created by the artist/s of the album. Often a theme will run through the
entire Digipak such as colour, an object or even a person.