DVD Digipak®

Digipak is a registered trademark of the company AGI Media which is a MeadWestvaco, Inc. resource. MeadWestvaco licensed the name and designs to manufacturers around

the world.

Digipaks are one of the first alternatives to Jewel cases. Digipak-style cases grew in popularity among record labels and recording artists in the early 2000s.

Digipaks typically consist of a gatefold or book-style paperboard or card stock outer, with one or more plastic trays capable of holding a CD or DVD attached to the inside.

Manufacturers have tried to reduce environmental impact and improve functionality by introducing recycled components into the Digipaks.

ProsThe Digipak looks nicer than the normal jewel casing, and many artists and record labels like to use them for aesthetic reasons. They are more expensive than the traditional jewel casing although they have more room which leaves more options in the design process. They don’t crack like Jewel cases. They are more environmentally friendly as they can be made out of

recycled paper. The Digipak comes as an advantage to the record company as they are giving the customer more than a CD and incite into their favourite artist which breeds loyalty

and makes the customer more likely to buy again.

CONSStretching your budget because you like digipacks aesthetically is not a good investment as they are so expensive. The trays in the Digipak break more easily, there is no protection so that the teeth break more evenly. If the teeth in the Digipak breaks there is nothing to hold

the disk in, so it could fall out of the bottom.

KEY ELEMENTS OF A DIGIPAKArtwork/Images/Photography Photographs of Artist/Band

Band/Artist’s Logo DVD Logo CD Logo

BBFC Classification Record company logo

Barcode

Design Relative to genre

Record label Barcode Booklet

Band logo Gatefold

Text

Name of artist Title of DVD

Reviews Blurb on back Track listing

Record company name Credits

Contents Bonus features

Website

A lot of mainstream artists have used Digipaks as they are growing in popularity. I took a trip to HMV to have a look at what kind of DVD Digipaks

they had, and what variety there was as the detail on the internet wasn’t very in-depth. I found a lot of variety in HMV and most of the Music DVD’s there were Digipaks. Ranging from 3-way gatefold to 6-way gatefold and

probably more although they were in a film wrapper so I couldn’t pull them apart and check out the insides.

Madonna Celebration (2-Disk Digipak)The Pictures on the Digipak include the cover-art: an extreme close-up of Madonna,

which is mirrored on two more sides of the Digipak which you see when you unfold it. The Digipak contains a fold-out poster similar to the one in the album but with details about the video on one side with screenshots of Madonna's videos inside television screens and a

large version of the front-cover picture on the other side. On the back cover there are shadowed images of Madonna behind the yellow section of colour. There is artwork on the

disks, and behind the casing. There is also a barcode a DVD logo, the production company logo and an ‘M’ logo inside a circle. The cover art is a very iconic photograph that

is best suited for the greatest hits as it

The Text included in the Digipak contains a sticker on the outer packaging stating that all the videos have been digitally remastered from the original tapes and some track listings. The name of the artist and the album along with a description on the

Digipak “The Video Collection.” On the back cover the text shows all the songs/videos that appear on the CD and DVD. It tells us the picture format,

duration, language, colour mode, subtitles and region code along with Madonna’s and Warner Brothers' website. Also some general information about Warner

Brothers Records. On the back of the poster included there is more information about what is on the disks and her website is featured again along the bottom of the

poster. There is text on the disc also, with her name and the name of the album.The consumer needs extra

content in the Digipak. The record company will want an extra disc and bonus material to charge

more money for the Digipak. The artist will want credits, thanks and

track listings. Record company and artist will want a back

catalogue. Previous albums that they could advertise on this album

so that they can potentially sell more.