To generate appropriate and applicable ideas for our CD digipak me and my group created individual moodboards inspired by the themes of Ska and digipaks of other Ska bands as to stick to the conventions to successfully. This has helped me to visualise how to present our star image when we come to produce the digipak. It is essential to include all the band members on the cover of the album as it shows the importance of togetherness and teamwork in the Ska. I also envisage an industrial setting that is consistent throughout the digipak to reflect themes of hardship and struggle which was prevalent when Ska was gaining popularity.

Marcus had a similar vision to me calling upon the colorful and fun nature of ska to be prevalent in our digipak design. He thought the use of funny costumes and a satirical theme would be an effective way to communicate the genre by showing the band being let loose. Simon called upon the classic themes of ska with the black and white checkers being an integral factor as well as suave costume reflecting the mod subculture of the time. He also recognized the need for the design to be happy and show the band having fun. Below you can view all our digipaks, mine is the final one.

Digipak:

Marking Criteria:

The shots are framed very well and I would grade it as a lower band 4. The picket signs above the masses of faceless individuals helps to draw my attention to it whilst also making me understand the idea of a lack of identity in a large, conformist world. There is a lot going on in the back panel but this gives the aesthetic of a nightstand which reflects the demographic of the target audience.

I would give this digipak an upper level 2 for their variety of shot distances since whilst they are framed for meaning there is not a great amount of variety between each panel. The close up of the Union Jack and the lion help to suggest the cultural association of the genre as well as the tenacity and rebellion expected from reggae, but this shot is relied on too much throughout.

The mise-en-scene is excellent. I would grant the digipak an upper band 4 due to the consistent use of abstract colors, especially on the Union Jack which helps to generate new perceptions in the consumer and also relates obviously to the genre. Political themes of rebellion, pacifism and protest are also clear which will engage greatly with the target audience whom will be of the Rastafarian culture.

Editing is clear here and therefore I would grant it a lower level 4 for the manipulation of images to create this digipak. The overarching cardboard backdrop which underpins all the other images gives a transient and makeshift feel suggesting the diversity and adaptability of reggae.

As seen above, the layout and design flows very well and there is a clear continuity between each and every panel through the consistent use of color and the cardboard backdrop. Each panel demonstrates its own political story and will appeal to specific individuals depending on their ideals and beleifs. I would give this an upper band 4.

The fonts for the band name and the tracks are both unique and clear, drawing in the consumers attention and therefore gaining a lower band 4.

In order to get a sense of the key conventions of CD digipaks my group and I analysed three album cover arts of three Ska bands. This has allowed us to see what is typically included in order to clearly and effectively demonstrate the genre to the target audience and from this it will help us to construct an appropriate digipak for our band. It is important to represent the genre correctly to our audience so the preferred reading of the text is achieved, this strengths the blueprint an contract formed between produces a consumers. Below is our analysis in a slide share, with mine being the final album cover.