As the school year and the work on this year’s yearbook is winding down, advisers can already start their preparations for next year. One great way to get ready for next year is by attending a yearbook workshop. You can see all of Walsworth’s workshop options in our updated Workshop Central section, with listings broken down by month.
Theme
Yearbooks thrive on ideas. Designs, photos, articles, themes – all the elements of a yearbook need them. The thoughts generated from frequent brainstorming sessions are the lifeblood of any publication.
It is always with some hesitation that a wholly original approach is taken in developing a yearbook theme. Given the diversity inherent to our west Texas border town of El Paso, the 2009 Franklin High School yearbook staff and I sought to reflect the many dimensions of living on a border by choosing a theme relevant to our existence.
Developing a theme idea throughout the yearbook not only helps to unify the book, but also adds a special dimension of involvement for readers. In the late 90s, there are many theme directions you can pursue.
Struggling to come up with a theme for this year’s yearbook? Find hundreds of ideas for every possible section of your yearbook.
Here are examples of some themes schools have used in past years. Within each theme, there are examples of titles for possible sections in the yearbook.
If a theme is going to have a wide range of appeal, it should evolve from brainstorming by the entire yearbook staff. Follow the enclosed guidelines.
One of my students’ favorite activities is a yearbook theme design contest. Instead of waiting until September to come up with a concept, we have a contest every spring. The winning theme is usually the yearbook theme for the next school year. Here are the rules and advantages.
Every year, yearbook staffs work through the process of developing their theme and design package. It could be compared to a game, with the twists and turns of brainstorming, dropping bad ideas, adding new ideas, combining ideas, and then narrowing the choices until you have perfected the theme. So use the following game board to guide you through brainstorming (or just play a game).
The new editor could visualize it: a pink and purple yearbook cover with a castle and the words, “Once Upon a Time….”
