Analysis of Digipaks

Alistair Grimsell

What Digipaks are:• Digipaks are usually cases for CDs that are made out of cardboard

rather than plastic that fold out like a leaflet or book• Some digipaks have a plastic tray for the CD to slot in but some

(as shown on the next slide) have pockets where the CDs are stored• They became more popular amongst record labels and recording

artists in the early 2000s• This form of CD packaging is classed as a ‘special edition’ and are

aimed mainly at ‘hardcore’ fans of the band or artist• Some contain DVD extras which can consist of the ‘making-of’ the

album and live, recorded tours (again, as shown on the next slide)

From these images, we can see that this digipak follows the same theme all from picture to picture and is a way of linking the theme of the album with artwork that has meaning and symbolism behind it. The theme behind this album is all about people in higher places controlling people of a lower position than them. This is shown in the types of colours being used all the way through this digipak because it is dark, grey and miserable.

Who are they for?• Digipaks are made for any and all demographics as

they are so easy to use• They are not genre-specific and are for fans of the

band or artist. They can also include artwork that have been inspired by the tracks on the album or be photoshoots of the band/artist• Generally, they do cost more as they can be more

expensive to make but not always. The two Muse album digipaks that I own were more expensive but one of the reasons why they were was because they both contain a DVD that features a live recording of tours that they did to promote their respective album

This digipak is for the album The 2nd Law and the theme of the album is entropy and that there is randomness and disorder in the system that will become unsustainable. The front cover of the digipak is used to represent the amount of different things going on in todays world and just how much there is going on. The colours from the front cover continue through the pack to connote that it is never ending and there is so much disorder and randomness is systems nowadays.