Walsworth Yearbooks

Their school was facing significant changes, but none elicited as emotional a response as a new dress code. The staff captured the reaction to the new rules beautifully on this opening spread. A photo that shows students reading from the folders that outlined the dress code displays shock and unhappiness at the new rules. But as the opening copy explains, “It was such a big deal at the time… But as the year went on, these things became yesterday’s news. There were essays to write. Lunch spots to choose. Sports practices and family time to balance. Life went on, and there were more adjustments to be made.” This attitude is central to the 2010 Wings book; students at Arrowhead Christian Academy “Adjust accordingly” and make it work.

Some headlines in the 2010 Wings book include “edits.” This spread, for example, changes the cliché phrase “Stop and smell the roses” to “Stop and smell the daises.” In doing these edits, the staff has taken well-known phrases and adjusted them to fit the events at Arrowhead Christian Academy; the staff had to “Adjust accordingly.”

Beautiful photography appears throughout the book. Even when printed small, these photos capture readers’ attention and tell a story. This is especially important on this events spread, which covers five different events on one spread. Each event is represented with a list of details and a couple of small photos; because the details — and the photos — are so vivid, this spread seems to fully capture all of these events.

There is no typical spread in the 2010 Wings; each spread has unique graphic elements, headline treatments and photo placement. However, this sports spread showcases some of the elements that appear throughout the book. A large dominant photo, a collection of much smaller photos, attention to alignment and a story of substantial length can be found on many of the spreads.

The visual effect of this yearbook is as inviting as the stories told by the staff. Brightly colored checkerboard patterns dominate the graphic additions to spreads, but they are joined by story-specific graphics and halftone patterns. The variation in spread designs keep readers interested while consistent font choices and invariably stunning photography help maintain the cohesive feel of this beautiful yearbook.

Each theme spread focuses on an individual who has had to “Adjust accordingly” to his life experiences. These pages feature close-up portraits of their subjects with heavy graphic overlays that mimic the graphics from the book’s cover. This effect draws readers in to the spread and underscores the personal nature of the stories shared.

This spread tells the story of a student whose brothers were both diagnosed with serious conditions at the same time — one with diabetes, the other with ADHD, Autism, ODD and a seizure disorder. His brothers’ conditions changed his life, but he has come to see how it has been for the better. The story employs an active verb in the headline, which, as the colophon explains, shows the conscious adjustment this student made in his attitude.

Every page of the 2010 Wings adheres to the same design plan — even those in the senior tributes section. It is clear the staff had a vision for their book and stayed true to themselves in every detail. This spread includes two senior tributes alongside a profile of a senior whose mother has multiple sclerosis. This story carries the theme logo — “Adjust accordingly” — and an active verb headline. These details let readers know this story was chosen because of its connection to the theme and help set this story apart from the tributes.