A2 Media Studies: Digipak and Magazine Advert planning

I have decided to question a group of friends on what they like to see on a Digipak or magazine advert before I commence my planning. I asked 4 girls and 2 boys what they would appreciate on an independent artists album cover and how they would think they should be represented.

Here are some quotes from the answers on the questionnaire:

In response to "Do you think an album cover for an independent artist should be focused on the artist or something different/irrelevant/abstract?"

Female: "I think the artist should be the focal point because from the image of them you can judge what kind of artist they might be, it's their music so they should be promoting it"
Male: "Sometimes something abstract looks really good but I think with a female independent artist it's a bit different because they rely a lot on their image, although they shouldn't being independent, I don't really think its a bad thing and I think it looks better"

In response to: "Do you have a particular preference for colour schemes of independent artists?"
Female: "I think they should stay away from the really bright pinks and neon colours seen on a lot of mainstream artists albums, they are trying to stay away from this and can often get confused for a mainstream artist if they use them conventions"
Male: "I don't think theres a particular type, it depends what fits with the image, I do quite like independent artists covers in black and white because they look aged, or in sepia to look rustic"

In response to : "What kind of poses or how should the artist be presented on the album cover and in the insert?"
Female: "I think they should look quite relaxed, mainstream artists tend to be really posey and look quite manufactured"
Male: "Probably just natural, if its all about the music as an independent artist they should just want to compliment it not take over with a brand image"

From this feedback I have been looking at images on the internet of both mainstream and independent artists to gain inspiration, I have decided that I want my front cover to be like a collage with the artist pulling lots of different faces, the more serious ones will be around the centre and the silly faces around the edge to show she is serious about the music but is a relaxed character. I want the front cover pictures to be in black and white in a collage with white spacing around each individual image with a red rose, in colour, adorning some corners of the image, the artist will also wear red lipstick and this will be exaggerated. The album insert will be the artist with a red rose doing various poses but keeping the rose as the focal point, I have some pictures further down as examples of poses. The back of the album cover will show the artist walking away as if she is leaving the listener with her music.

Here are some examples of inspiration.