Concept CONCEPTUAL SPIN-OFFS | Rely on the concept introduced by the theme rather than on the words. CLOSING SECTION | Finishes the story of the year and brings the yearbook to closure. DIVIDER | Indicates a new section and provides design continuity throughout the yearbook. ENDSHEET | The heavy paper between the cover and the first and last pages that help hold the pages into the cover. OPENING SECTION | Introduces the story of the year and explains the yearbook’s concept. PARTING PAGE | The final page of the yearbook with a design similar to the title page; makes a powerful and final verbal and visual statement of the theme or concept. SPIN-OFF | Key words, phrases or ideas that support the main theme or catch phrase through word choice or concept and are used for each section of the book or content modules. These unify the book and highlight the coverage.
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An effective theme concept is recognizable, relevant and repeatable while setting the stage for dynamic verbal and visual
STORYTELLING Unique events and happenings inspire theme ideas.
Anything unique to a year inspires a yearbook’s theme — a change in a school building, schedule or curriculum; a celebration or anniversary in the school or community; a community event or bigger issue that directly impacts students. So can school or community traditions or the demographics of the yearbook’s audience.
They ask a question or make a statement; they reflect pride in the school or mark an important milestone; they make readers feel special. A theme that comes from a close examination of the immediate environment better reflects the school and the year than one that is dreamed up simply to be clever.
RELEVANT: Readers understand how the theme relates to their lives and school and to the year. The theme makes sense to them.
Verbal and visual stories supporting the theme concept run through the sections, often in content modules that are sometimes labeled with theme-related phrases.
Theme-related whole-book links expand coverage.
A good theme meets certain requirements.
REPEATABLE: The theme is expressed in language that speaks to readers. They can easily remember theme phrases.
A relevant theme concept inspires content.
A whole-book link is a theme-related content element such as a photo strip, a folio presentation, a listing or quote box that runs consistently throughout the entire yearbook. A whole-book link not only adds unity but also greatly expands coverage.
Theme statements are lighthearted or serious.
RECOGNIZABLE: Readers understand the concept and realize what the staff is trying to accomplish with the theme. Readers can identify the theme development pages.
GREATER THAN GRAND BLANC | Not intended to be snobbish, this concept set the stage for covering what pushes Grand Blanc students to be better than average, even better than good. Lines are a powerful unifying graphic.
SIX SQUARE MILES | This concept, inspired by the sixsquare miles that defines the school district surrounding Highland Park High School, is introduced with a graphic featuring six boxes of different colors that label content.
INDIVIDUALLY WE | This concept is introduced with a dazzling cover design beginning with “I am an individual” with first-person statements followed by “we” statements. Student names appear through the precision-cut “WE.”
YOU TELL ME | A loud, in-yourface concept allows for more student opinion, first-person accounts and featured quotes. Oversized elements, including the theme statement on the cover and quote marks inside are effective visual cool tools.
For a closer look at the Echo from Grand Blanc High School [MI], visit pages 26-27 of Look Book 10.
For a closer look at the Highlander from Highland Park High School [TX], visit pages 32-33 of Look Book 10.
For a closer look at the Pathways from Pinnacle High School [AZ], visit pages 44-45 of Look Book 10.
For a closer look at the El Paisano from Westlake High School [TX], visit pages 64-65 of Look Book 10.
The theme sets the tone for the story of the year.
A contemporary theme statement is more than a phrase on the cover — it provides a platform for telling the story of the year.
TITLE PAGE | The first page of the yearbook makes a positive first impression and provides critical reference information. THEME | A central idea or concept that sets the tone for telling the story of the year. Repeated throughout the yearbook on cover and endsheets and in opening, closing and dividers, it unifies the storytelling message of the book and gives it personality. THEME PACKAGE | The main areas where the theme concept is visually and verbally reported to the readers: cover, endsheets, title page, opening, dividers, closing and parting page. WHOLE-BOOK LINK | A concept-related content element such as a photo strip, a folio presentation, a listing or quote box that runs consistently throughout the entire yearbook or a section. A whole-book link not only serves as a unifying element, but greatly expands coverage.