WHAT do you consider when you decide to buy a CD? The singers, the songs, probably. But one thing that might really catch your eye as you ponder in front of the colourfully-packed shelves may rest on the square boxes, holding the little discs, which mark the amazing creativity and effort of the artists behind the stage. The art of CD covers was ignored until pirate CDs flooded the market and prompted record companies to invest more effort and thought into packaging the plastic boxes. To recognise the efforts of the group of artists who work enthusiastically to contribute to visual art in the Canto-pop scene, Hit Radio and the modern culture magazine, Ryuko Tsushin , are holding the first Hong Kong Best CD Design Awards tonight at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium. 'CD design involves a lot, including photography, graphics, hair-styling. It is, in fact, an aesthetic piece of work,' said Philip Chan Yan-kin, deputy managing director of Metro Broadcast Corporation. 'The cover plays a significant part in a CD as it visualises the mood of the music and gives the listener an image.' Fourteen awards (Best Image Design, Best Hair Styling, Best Costume Design, Best Make-up, Best Photography, Best Graphic Design, Best Computer Graphics, Most Stylish Cover Male Singer, Most Stylish Cover Female Singer, Media's Choice, Most Creative Look, Best Packaging Concept, HK Classic Award and Best CD Design of the Year) will be awarded tonight when singers will project their latest images. The panel of judges includes Philip Chan; TVB general managing director Alex Ying Ki-luen; renowned designers Alan Chan Yau-kin and Flora Cheong-leen, and Ryuko Tsushin managing editor Orczy Mak Wai-yin. Alan Chan, who was engaged in album cover design 10 years ago when he worked with Anita Mui Yim-fong and Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing, said the audience was getting younger these days and singers had to find a way to stand out from others with outstanding images. 'If they don't appear with creative looks, they cannot capture the ever-changing tastes of the audience.'
