How To Find Unique Yearbook Themes

One of the most important steps in creating a yearbook is to choose a theme for book. It is one of the first tasks on a long list of “To Do’s” for a yearbook staff. Everyone has an idea and everyone wants a different theme. This is a time when it is essential for the yearbook staff to work as a team and pick the best theme possible for their school. Follow these steps to make the decision process just a little bit easier.

Step 1: Find previous yearbooks from the school. Make a list of all the things the staff would like to keep and all the things they should delete. This will help you narrow down where you are headed with your theme.

Step 2: Consider your school color and mascot. Ask yourself if you could fit these colors into a particular theme. Decide if you want to stick with the school colors in the yearbook theme or if you want to choose other colors. Likewise, decide if you plan to incorporate the mascot into the theme.

Step 3: Review and look ahead at the current year at your school. Has anything special or different taken place? Make a list of accomplishments and trying times. Don’t forget to consider world events. For example, 2010 started a new decade. Brainstorm for a list of adjectives that describe the events of the past year. These adjectives may spur you in the direction of the right yearbook theme.

Step 4: The culture of your school is very important. The theme that you choose fits the overall population of students at your school, not just a chosen few.

Step 5: Collect some of the literature from student writings. Does a common theme arise from their writings? Input from teachers, clubs and students also is very important. Perhaps survey possible theme ideas from the students.

Step 6: Narrow your possible themes to a list of 6. Take a vote amongst the yearbook staff. It is very importnat to get approval from administrators on the final 6. Next, take the top 4 and run the vote again with the student body. Keep going until you have chosen the number 1 theme for your yearbook.

Tips & Warnings…

Tensions generally run high during this decision making process. Everyone has an own opinion. Remind voters that whatever theme is chosen, an illustration/photo will be required to match the theme. Keep reminding yourselves that you are working for the school and student body, not your individual selves!

Want to find out more about yearbooks, then visit PictureThisYearbooks.com’s site on how to choose the best yearbook theme for your needs.