not meant to be humorous :

I understand that this image is supposed to warn someone that their life could be in danger if they are not cautious, but it makes me smile every time I see it. It's displayed on security gates all over the city. I wonder how many revisions the designer went through before ending with something they believed people from all cultural backgrounds would understand.

as long as the junk mail keeps on comin' :

These cards went to Megan Bachelder, Robin Brucker, and Rachel Carnes Finn.

can't... stop... gluing... :

I just can't stop! These cards went to Megan Brothers, Bethany Retterer, Jessica Peatee, and Kim Federer.

some sounds to accompany the trash :

I decided that if I was going to send people garbage, I might as well include something they'll really want. These are the first set of album covers from the greetings from Chicago series. As you can see, the series is slowly evolving into collages that have less to do with Chicago. I'm happy with where this project is headed. I feel less restricted.

These mix tapes are headed to Morgan Heacock, Andreas Tabor, and Shelby Louis.


Here's the track listing on the mix tape:

1. My Career As A Ghost Big Science
2. 1901 Phoenix
3. Cheerleader Grizzly Bear
4. Stillness is the Move Dirty Projectors
5. White Blank Page Mumford & Sons
6. No One Does It Like You Department of Eagles
7. Fables The Dodos
8. Alone The Morning After Girls
9. Action/Reaction Choir of Young Believers
10. Party In Your Bedroom Cash Cash

behind :

Wow. My last blog was 23 days ago! I apologize! Here's the good news; I finally moved into my new apartment in Chicago. I have a full address... where I can receive all kinds of mail. Really!

Here's what is planned for this week: complete "trashcard" album covers for mix tapes that accompany the greetings from Chicago series. Have no fear; those covers will be scanned and posted before hitting the US Post.

i blog, but i try not to lie :

I was very sad in believing that I would be writing about the retirement of marketing and advertising guru Lee Clow this evening. He is the Chief Creative Officer at Apple’s ad agency TBWA (also the creator of the Energizer Bunny and the Taco Bell Chihuahua), and it was said today that he had stepped down from his post. Apparently, this is not true. Just an exaggeration created by the internet. In response to the hoopla, Gizmodo released this note supposedly written by Lee himself:

Hey Everyone:

So we tried to promote Duncan Milner because of the great job he's been doing leading the Media Arts Lab and look at how the blogosphere decided to make it a conversation about me.

As you all know, I'm here every day meddling in everything that goes on, pushing the creative on many brands including keeping an eye on Apple.

I remain Chairman of MAL, Global Creative Director of Media Arts and Chief Creative Officer of TBWA Worldwide.

I'm not going anywhere.

Love, Lee

As a loyal Mac user/lover/shameless viral promoter, a new Mac vs. PC commercial always knows how to brighten my day, so I decided to attach the link with someone else's Top 10 Apple Commercials anyways. It feels good to look back!





[Oh, and good work Duncan Milner!]

a handy skill set :

It's wonderful to see such a delicate process from beginning to end.

i guess everyone can't speak symbol :

I didn't expect to run into anyone in the post office when I arrived there at 7:10 on Thursday. [The PO locks its doors at 8:00] There were only two cars in the parking lot; I assumed they belonged to staff. You know what assuming means...

When I walked inside, there was a very confused looking woman standing next to the blue bin just inside the door. I was only a few steps in the door when she demanded of me, "Is this for trash? It says 'paper only.' I've been putting mail in here."

"I think it's for recycling, but paper only," I replied as I opened and closed my empty P.O. box. She stood there in silence, staring down at the bin. As I walked past to exit, she exclaimed, "This is a terrible place to put this!"

"Yeah, it's not a very safe way to get rid of your mail..." then I glanced at her face. "OH. You've been putting outgoing mail in there?"

"Yes! Where is it supposed to go?"

"Do you see the black slots on the wall behind you with the pick up times listed?" I tried not to laugh as I gestured.

She turned around with a shocked, disbelieving smile on her face, "I wonder how many people have done this!"

I had no response.

greetings from Chicago :

These trashcards were mailed to Christina Moritz, Whitney Crooks, Lauren Rausch, and Jolene Powell.
The series continued:

i used to be a pack-rat :

Technically, I might still be a pack-rat. I have a serious habit of saving anything I feel I may be able to use in a later project. However, I've found something new to do with my random scraps of what others may call "trash." I'm mailing it to my friends.

These postcards have been created as part of a series, greetings from Chicago, which currently includes both postcards and album artwork. These specific cards have been mailed to: Colleen Wolfe, Paul Bodager, Aaron Berger, and Michael Bomar. They include ads from an auto magazine, Crate & Barrel, photo scraps from another project, and Chase atm receipts.

so google, how do i... :

After an honest all-nighter, my website is finally finished.

www.jenniferbachelder.com

no donnie, you suck at photoshop :

I was reminded of an old favorite today; Donnie Hoyle and his comedy/life/depression based Photoshop tutorials. I am posting one of my personal favorites (I like it mostly because this was a trick I had never seen used, but had an immediate use for).

take a step forward?

In response to my recent post about being too nearsighted, I found this in a Starbucks. Someone actually inserted the place card into the holder upside down. Should this person have been more nearsighted?

Although my post was fairly focused, apparently there is a balance to be found.

they all laughed :

My internship at Invisible Records requires a wide variety of duties from me. Because I am in charge of promotions, Friday's requirements included fliering for Martin Atkins' upcoming weekend "school," Tour:Smart PLUS.

I was able to take another intern with me to take on the city of Chicago armed with only 150 fliers. She was driver and I was the jumper. We were looking for the Music Garage when we drove up to a group of about 15 guys on the side of the street. The other inter says, "Hey, they look like hipsters. Ask them if they want a flier." I agreed and immediately stuck my head out the window, saying, "Hi. Would any of you be interested in a flier about a music seminar?" As I'm asking them, I realize they are unloading gig equipment out of a trailer. I think, Great! Exactly the kind of people I want to be talking to! Once the question has been asked, every single one of the guys on the street start laughing before one turns around and says, "No thanks. I think we're good."

As we pull away from the small crowd, we notice a big red touring bus. It's then that I begin to wonder who exactly it was I had been talking to. The other intern and myself park the car and begin to search for the Music Garage by foot. When we get back to the tour bus and trailer, the group has dismissed and only a few boxes remained on the sidewalk. Each of the remaining white boxes where labeled with black text which says, Plain White T's.

I wonder how long they laughed about that stupid girl who asked them if they were interested in a music seminar.

new beginnings :

Many new projects beginning this week:

1] Invisible Records/TOUR:SMART
2] Scarlet Petal
3] The Bean Project
4] An Unspecified Birthday Project (TBA)

More to come.

a different motivation :

During my time as an undergrad at Marietta College [Congrats on the new site], I never hesitated to skim pages or just read the chapter recaps in my general class preparation. In fact, I didn't mind doing this to prepare for exams in classes I didn't find particularly difficult.

It is amazing how one's motivation is completely different when it comes to personal preparation for something one finds truly important. Today I spent the majority of my day immersed in TOUR:SMART and Break the Band, and I haven't skipped a single page. I thought it would be appropriate to note the top 5 tips I've absorbed from the first 150 pages:

1. Any one currently involved, or could potentially be involved, in the success, or failure, of your tour should be treated as if they are your best friend.

2. No one cares more about your career and this tour than you do. Act accordingly; Stay involved and pay attention!

3. Utilize your technological resources [EXCEL!].

4. Do not consider IF things can go wrong; Consider WHEN they will go wrong.

5. Never ever even consider sh*tting on the bus. Remember this any time you are blessed with a road stop that includes a decent bathroom [or any bathroom depending on your situation].

if you can read this, you are too close :

I am consistently amazed by the lack of attention paid by the general population when it comes to an assignment that can completed easily by just going through the motions. During our adventures today, my roommate and I found ourselves at a Wal-Mart searching for a perfectly bound sketchbook. We had not even pulled into our parking spot when my roommate mentioned that the icon marking the near by cart return was upside down. I did not understand what she could possibly mean until I saw it myself. Sure enough, we were looking at a cart turned onto its top. Apparently, the employee who assembled the cube did not realize that he switched the bottom and top pieces, which put the hole on the wrong side, causing the cart to appear up-side-down on each of the other 4 sides of the cube. How could one step back from your work that day and think "Job well done." Maybe that's exactly the problem; The employee had become so nearsighted that he could only observe the specific side he was working on. Sometimes we all need to step back.

continuing [beginning] my education :

Today, I spent the majority of my afternoon in Borders, one of the happiest places on earth. Each time I walk through the front door, I struggle to remember that at this stage of my life, I'm living with a pretty strict budget.

My goal was to purchase TOUR:SMART and Break the Band, written by my new boss, Martin Atkins. I was caught off guard by the shear size of this book when I removed it from the shelf. Minus the hard cover, it's comparable to some of my healthier texts from undergrad. The burnt color palette combined with the text manipulation reminds me of an old WWI propaganda poster. Inside, the simple black and white page layout makes me what to write all over it in highlighter. I'm excited to begin reading.

As a small birthday gift to myself, I also purchased Punk 365. Although I love music from this genre, I realize most of my knowledge is limited to the last 3-5 years; My history needs some serious help. Don't be surprised if you revisit this blog and find that I've only recently discovered some of punk's most important historical figures.

MySpace renewal :

Today's agenda as far as stepping up my game in social networking was getting my MySpace in order. I spent a few semi-productive hours adding about 50 bands to my new friend list.

Once you begin adding bands, the process never ends. This is partially thanks to bands who write to you saying "If you like ____, you will probably like us, too!" Out of the 20 or so similar messages that I received today, there was one very pleasant surprise included, The Crazed. Their light sound made my long process of "friend finding" much more enjoyable. It's so nice to hear great sounds being produced in my home state!

Another playlist that accompanied my MySpace travels today was that of Justin Armstrong. Justin and I were classmates at Marietta College. Another classmate of ours and fellow graphic designer, Christina Moritz, mentioned Justin's music to me. She was right; His stuff is great to listen to while creating, I just wish the playlist was longer.

internship with Tour:Smart :

One week from today, I begin my 18 week internship with Tour:Smart. I am excited to learn about the workings of the small company. During my interview, I learned that their are only two full time permanent staff members. The company utilized 8-10 interns during the summer of 2009. I do not know how many interns I will be working with this fall. During my internship, I hope to not only learn about event promotion, but also gain an insiders view on the experiences, necessities, and benefits of a well promoted tour.

The small building that houses Tour:Smart also allows room for other companies such at Invisible Records, which appears to be run by the same Tour:Smart staff members. Information from the inside to come in the following weeks.

the place this blog comes from :

A few weeks ago, I moved from small town, OH to Chicago, IL in pursuit of a career as a graphic designer in the music industry. This blog is one of twelve steps that I have established to help push my career in the right direction. This set of steps stems from my experience at Traffic Marketing, a conversation with a new friend, and the advise of a specific designing peer.

To date, my experience designing for musicians is limited to my senior capstone which I created at Marietta College. I completed a full [mock] promotional package for the British band Florence & the Machine. The video attached acted as my primary inspiration for the package.

In the near future, I plan to be as vocal as possible about my availability for small local bands who have creative needs.