Feb
18
How to Conceptualize Creative CD Packaging
Filed Under CD Packaging | 2 Comments
The CD packaging is mainly used to store and protect CDs and DVDs but it has lots of other functions aside from the obvious. CD packaging can also be used to increase product sales, to define the musician’s image and style, and to convince the consumers to buy the album instead of downloading songs or buying pirated CDs. Without a doubt,, CD packaging plays a very vital role in the music retail industry.
If you are a graphic designer venturing in the CD packaging industry or if you are a musician who wants to do his own CD Packaging, here is a step-by-step guide in conceptualizing CD Packaging.
Get to know the musicians
Before you even start to think of ideas for the CD packaging, you must first get to know the musicians. Do a quick online research about them before you have your first meeting. And during the meeting, casually ask the musicians some questions that could help you define their personality. Ask them about their simple and not-so-simple life philosophies, about their music icons, about their influences. For new musicians, it would be helpful if you ask them straight out on what kind of image they want to portray. Do they want to be the cool psychedelic nerds or the intellectual hippies?
Ask the musicians what they want to see in the CD packaging
How to Conceptualize Creative CD Packaging
Most likely the musicians already has a concept running around his head before they contacted you. You need to weed it out from them so you can come up with one solid concept.
Aside from the concept, you should also ask them what they want to include inside the CD packaging. Do they want to include a brief bio, a picture gallery, or the song lyrics? Do they want to include freebies or coupons? Ask all the necessary details and specifications so you can consider them when conceptualizing the CD packaging.
Listen to the album and write down adjectives
Some designers really listen through the whole album while thinking of a concept to get the overall feel of it. A simpler way is to ask the musicians of one song that they think defines the personality of the whole album. While brainstorming, listen to it on loop and write down adjectives, movies, pegs, and images that pop on your head. Of course, do not forget to consider the musician’s personality and their concept as well. it is their album after all.
Find pegs of your design
You already have creative ideas in your head about the CD packaging design. But sometimes, it is difficult to articulate our visual ideas succinctly to our clients. The easiest way to express these abstract ideas is by presenting pegs. These are pictures, movies, or sources of inspiration that more or less resembles your concept. Look for at least 5-6 images that represent your idea and present it to your clients
Create at least 3 versions of your design
After you and the client have clearly agreed on a concept, it’s now time to do the actual designs. Make at least 3 variations so you would know what looks best. A simple detail or color change could have a huge impact on the overall CD Packaging design.
Make necessary revisions
After presenting your designs, expect some minor revisions and suggestions from the client. A good communication skill is a must if you are in this industry. The better your communication skills, the less likely you’ll make major revisions. Do not put up with a client who demands too many revisions. If you’ve clearly agreed on a concept beforehand, then both of you should respect that.
It’s ready for reproduction
Once they are happy with the CD Packaging, it is now time to send the design over to their CD manufacturing company for mass reproduction.
Aug
30
Calling All CD/DVD/ Vinyl Designers!
Filed Under Announcements, Featured Designers | Leave a Comment
Let Me See Your Package will be featuring CD Designers weekly!
If you think you have good designs or if you know someone who has, don’t hesitate to contact us or email me directly ( marion@unifiedmanufacturing.com). We would love to do a quick interview with you about your works. You can share to us how your techniques, tips, and even your sources of inspiration! Come on now, don’t be shy. Show us what you’ve got!
Dec
1
Event: Record Store Day
Filed Under Events | Leave a Comment
The first event on the official Let Me See Your Package Calendar is Record Store Day, scheduled for Saturday, April 18th, 2009. This is the day to celebrate all that is great and unique about independent record stores. Here is a list of participating stores.
Many popular artists support the event, including John Mellencamp, Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, and Ben Harper. Quoth The Boss:
“I buy CDs all the time. I’ll go into a record store and just buy $500 worth of CDs. I will! I am singlehandedly supporting what’s left of the record business.
I hate to see record stores disappear, and I’m old-school in that I think you should pay for your music. But what my kids do is download a lot of things, pay for them, and then if they love something, they’ll get the CD. That may be the future.”
Nov
20
Beck and 8-Bit
Filed Under CD Packaging | 2 Comments
This collaboration album between Beck and 8-bit, a robot gangster rap group (you read that right) has quite the story behind it. Originally Beck and his label, Interscope Records, planned on around 30 independent artists remix Beck’s music. Somehow 8-bit, out of Highland Park, CA, ended up producing the track “Ghettochip Malfunction” almost entirely on their own, with only Beck’s vocals to go on.
This charming, nostalgic packaging, by Design Has No Name contains the work 8-bit produced based on Beck’s tracks. If you haven’t figured out what the design is based on, you’re too young. Please leave.
I have to say, I love everything about this design. Who wouldn’t? My favorite part is shown in the photo just below this, the way the name of the album is printed on top of the cartridge. That way when you have stacks of NES games (or Beck CDs) on top of one another, you can easily pick the best game on which to embarrass your friends.
