Finding Your Theme.

Some times the hardest part of the yearbook is landing on a solid theme. Every year we remind students that the purpose of the theme is to unite the yearbook. A good theme will focus on something that’s unique about the school year and can be used throughout the book. Every year students say “well, there’s nothing different about this school year”. If we’re looking for something positive in the face of COVID-19 I guess we at least won’t get that response. While COVID-19 has impacted our entire world, it most definitely will impact the yearbook. So as you read through these tips below, think about what’s happening at your school. What do you want students to remember about this year. How is your school addressing the pandemic and how is it affecting your students. Besides, this might just be the most historic yearbook you ever create.

What is a theme:
A theme is a cohesive, consistent verbal and visual message developed throughout the book to connect to the students, the school and the school year. Think of the theme as the personality for your yearbook.

A great theme is…

• Unique and unexpected

• Hasn’t been done before

• A new twist on something familiar

• A balance between surprising and relatable

What’s included in a theme:

• Words

• Fonts

• Colors

• Graphics

• Styles

Where does a theme go:

• Cover

• Endsheets

• Title Page

• Theme Pages (Opening, Dividers, Closing, etc)

• Coverage Topics

• Folios

• Page layouts