2. Clear links made with imagery and album theme
The imagery used on the front cover of the digipak conveys a sense
of aging. The album title ‘1989’ implies these polaroid-like images
have faded and aged over time. It features a polaroid photograph of
Taylor Swift, which has then been handwritten on. As this artist is
extremely well known, the imagery used will attract an already built
up fan base. This is a somewhat entropic front cover, as we expect to
see the artist’s face. However, in this piece, her face is cut off.
Having an image of the artist on the front cover is a not a typical
convention of the Indie Pop genre. However, it is more of a
convention within female indie pop artists to have themselves
featured on the cover of their album. The layout of this cover is
simple, however is somewhat entropic in the sense that we assume
that the photograph will feature the entirety of the artist’s face.
The front cover image is quite soft and warm, which implies that the
music on this album will be following a similar theme of warm,
positive, light-hearted songs.
The album name, 1989, was chosen based on the artist’s birth year.
This album seems personal – as though the polaroid was something
kept from her past. From the front cover’s design elements, the
buyer will receive the sense that the album will contain more
personal, nostalgic songs. This is done through the idea that the
cover has been written on by the artist herself.

3. Continuity – similar imagery used on the
front and back over to make the casing flow
and feel as though it is one product.
Again, on the back cover of the 1989 digipak
casing, a polaroid photograph has been used. The
focus point of the photograph; Taylor Swift, has
not been covered with text, the text on this cover
has been placed around her so as to make it more
legible.
The back cover of the digipak casing shows not
only the track list, but bonus tracks and voice
memos too. Digipaks tend to be limited edition
album releases, or deluxe versions which include
extra tracks. Also included is essential information
such as the barcode, record label information and
production house.
The handwritten font is again used on the back
cover to number and head the track lists. This
creates a sense of continuity. To enhance the idea
of ‘old fashioned’ technology which is evident in
this cover, (old polaroid effect images), a
typewriter-like font has been used to list the song
names. The fonts used will appeal to a wide target
audience as they are aimed neither specifically
toward a male or female audience member.

4. Inside the digipak, comes a
bundle of polaroid images of
Taylor Swift in what seems like a
make-shift photoshoot. Each
photograph features lyrics from
songs within the album in a
handwritten print onto the
images. This shows a sense of
continuity from the images seen
on the front and back cover of the
digipak. It is also something is
more memorabilia-like than a CD
alone.

5. There is also a booklet inside the 1989 digipak,
which includes an introduction to the album
from the artist, as well as lyrics to each song.
These are accompanied by more polaroid style
photos of the artist, conveying a clear sense of
continuity throughout each element of the
digipak product.
The colours used within this booklet are
primarily pale blue tones alongside polaroid
images. Typically, polaroid images are
somewhat faded and desaturated in tone. This
is mirrored in the pale, light tone of blue
which has been used behind the lyric guides.