1. Amazon Rose

2. The front cover for The XX’s album uses a
very simplistic colour scheme of white and
a colouful oil like texture. This reflects the
nature of the new edge music and the
indie pop genre. Another typical feature of
the genre is the use of very simplistic album
covers that aren’t the typical conventions
of album artwork. The front cover depicts a
cross that covers and centres the frame.
The use of the oil spill creates a rainbow
coloured shine to the album, using different
materials in this way could be something I
look into for my own digipak.
Another aspect that makes this cover stand
out is the cut out feature. This makes the
cover have slightly more of a 3 dimensional
feel to it and again brings out the texture of
the oil graphic.

3. The inside of the digipak offers a
continuation simplistic white and oil graphic
theme but injects a slightly brighter use of
the oil colour on the CD itself. The inside
also introduces an insert pocket again
featuring the cut out and oil cross graphic.
This pocket has a curved edge to create a
very finished look, at the same time as
sustaining a sense of simplicity. I quite like
the cut across of the photograph and the
rounded edges that make the design seem
clean and professional.
I have noticed that the digipak does not
feature a photo of the artist themselves, this
is an indication they are already well known
and have no need to publicise their image.

4. This photograph shows the first page of the
insert. The artist has used the double spread
to carry on the album artwork however this
time adding in a new graphic. Despite this
the graphic still continues with the oil colour
spill theme, making good use of synergy.
The colours used are again are very vibrant
and stand out against the plain
background. Whereas the main album
artwork uses a white colour scheme here
they have opted for black as an
alternative. The use of black against the
colour also provides a vibrant eye catching
contrast and intriguing image.

5. This is another shot of the insert, as the artist
provided a page for each song that
features the lyrics. This enables the
audience to become involved in the
music, as they can study and possibly sing
the lyrics to aid the understanding of the
song.
This page is for the song “Reunion” and
offers another new graphic or photograph
which again continues the theme. A
heavier use of black picks up the shadows
and layers of the artwork, providing a
stronger draw to the textures.
The white font used is small and does not
draw the attention away from the art or
style.

6. Here the artist has further
experimented with textures and colours
but sticks to a darker colour scheme.
The dark colour scheme of the insert is
a good continuation of the theme to
make sure this CD maintains synergy.
The white font against the black again
highlights the importance of the lyrics
but also does not draw away from the
artwork.
The rounded font gives connotations of
a slightly softer sound and also follows
the alternative theme that runs through
this digipak.

7. The back of the insert continues the
dark theme but this time introduces a
larger graphic, with a close up
abstracted photograph of the oil spill.
This image is very striking and yet still a
very subtle and effective image.
These colours are very fitting with the
theme of the digipak, and the simplistic
design could mimic the rounded fonts
and rounded edges of the digipak
framing.
A simplistic thank you adds a
personalisation to the insert, as well as
highlighting the colours with the metallic
font.

8. The back cover provides a list of the songs
in the simple rounded non serif font that is
carried throughout the didgipak and the
cover. The artwork style is not continued on
the back cover, it is left white to not detract
away from the cover and to fit with the
minimalistic style.
A link to the website is visible in a very small
font at the base of the page. The record
company’s logo is also visible to reference
those involved and credit production.

9. It is clear the artist has kept the simple
graphic very consistent throughout the
artwork. Synergy is evidently very important
for this artist. This helps link all of the pieces
of the digipak together and also create a
sense of a finished product. The gaphic is
very simple and abstracted yet maintains
the link to the natural word the artist and
the genre have.
In my own digipak I will strive to keep this
level of consistency as I feel it provides a
much more professional look to the
product.