Digipak Analysis:

Calvin Harris’

18 Months

By Yousef El-Badri

Digipak Analysis: Background

• It is Calvin Harris’ second studio album.

• The album was released on the 26th October 2012.

• The album debuted atop the UK Albums Chart with

first-week sales of 52,356 copies.

• 18 Months had sold over 650,000 copies in the UK by

August 2013

• The album reached number one in the UK charts.

• 18 Months is the first album in history to have nine

top ten singles.

Front Cover Analysis Firstly, from the front cover we, as an audience, are

able to identify the albums name and the artist. His

vital information is made clear through the simple

white typography, which indicates that more focus is

on the music than the ascetics of the album. The front

cover of '18 Months' uses bright colours and high key

lighting. The main colours palette features the

predominant use of light sky-blue. This reflects the

sense that the image was taken in summer, which is

solidified by the inclusion of Calvin Harris' shadow

across the ground. These colours are also typical of

the dance genre, as dance music is stereotypically

linked to the summer and clubbing holiday

destinations. Calvin Harris is shown sitting on the

edge of a pavement, in front of a brick wall with the

blue sky behind it.

Disc Analysis

The internal CD is black with the same white

typography as the cover. This gives the CD a

'classic' look, as a pose to the typical stereotype

that dance music is 'chavy'. By using the same

typography as the cover, the album maintains

it's theme and palette throughout. The CD

includes the record labels names and also 'All

rights preserved', backing up the

professionalism of the album.

Back cover analysis

The back cover of '18 Months' uses a

similar image to the front cover, but in a

long shot. Consequently, more of the

location is revealed. Calvin Harris is

still shown sitting on the edge of the

pavement, but this time his direct gaze

connects him to the audience even more

so. The back cover includes simple but

important aspects such as; bar code,

record labels and the track listing. The

track listing includes the continuity of

the white typography that has been

carried through all aspects of the

Digipak, linking all the areas together.