Digipak Research

There are well-established industry criteria for every product: logos, posters, CDs, business cards and stationery, advertising and websites. Here are some main criteria to help judge a design success.

1. Is it unified with the content or message you are trying to get across? This creates an immediate connection and sense of belonging.

2. Is there an information and visual hierarchy? This means there's a focal point or image that grabs your attention first, and then your eye is led around the design in the order of what is important after seeing the main image of reading the main text.

3. Does the design have graphic impact? Is it distinctive or memorable? There are many CDs competing with yours for attention, lots of these are sent out to producers and designers, this means it must be a major contender.

4. Is it appropriate for whom you want to attract and the environment in which it will be presented? A poster or CD for a country audience will not have the same look and feel presentation as for a heavy metal one.

The golden era of cover art design began in the early to mid 1960s and lasted into 1980s. During this time the major format for music was 12 inch, long play disc or LP.Cover art became a part of the musical culture of the time. Often used to express graphically the musician's artistic intent, it helped connect and communicate to listeners the message or underlying theme of the album.

Album cover art, now almost exclusively CD and CD packaging artwork, went through a period of change and rebirth in the 1990s.