yearbook theme for high schools
DESCRIPTION
An introductory look at developing a good theme for a high school yearbook.TRANSCRIPT
THEME& COVERAGEThe theme is the plot of the novel. The coverage is the novel.
By Bradley Wilson, [email protected]
bradleywilsononline.net©2013
YOU’REPART
OF THESTORY
• Historical record• Journalistic exercise• Public relations tool• Educational experience• Business experience
Maybe it’s all of the above, but in what order?
WHAT IS A YEARBOOK
The theme unifies the book. It gives a purpose to the book and a plan for every spread. The theme should sparkle with creativity and should allow the staff to highlight unusual aspects of unusual
events.
THE THEME
THEME DEVELOPMENT
Develop theme onCover
EndsheetsTitle pageOpening
Division pagesClosing
Last page SidebarsFolios
Not in every headline
• Make an inventory of all pertinent facts about the school.
• Circle facts on the list that stand out.• Note similar items.• Identify key words.• Identify key concepts.
THE CREATIVE PROCESS — BRAINSTORMING
• Using the key words, generate a list of catch phrases & concepts.
• Consult other students, teachers, yearbook experts for additional phrases or concepts.
• Check out magazines, billboards, CD covers, TV graphics for ideas.
THE CREATIVE PROCESS — BRAINSTORMING
• Develop verbal possibilities
• Brainstorm phrases that mean the same thing as your theme.
• Brainstorm phrases that spin off key words in your phrase.
THE CREATIVE PROCESS — BRAINSTORMING
SCHOOL PRIDEBetter YetFor All the Right ReasonsFirst & ForemostYou Can’t Ask for Anything MoreEnough SaidCan You Top This?One Better
THE CREATIVE PROCESS — BRAINSTORMING
Theme: OneSchool: Springstead High School Mascot: EaglesColors: Red, White & Blue1,876
Play on name of schoolwhatchamacallie (McCallie HS)Still Waters Run Deep (Stillwater HS)A League of OUr Own (Ohio University)South of the Border (Southview HS, 6 miles S. of MI border)Every Day is St. Patrick’s Day (St. Patrick’s HS)ahs (Abilene HS) Not Your Typical Hooker (Hooker HS)
THE CREATIVE PROCESS — BRAINSTORMING
Theme: M & MSchool: McNeil High School Mascot: MavericksColors: Blue & GreenPopulation: 3,200
Consider significant events A piece of cake (anniversary)XXX-rated (30th anniversary)A Full House Beats 3 of a Kind (9th grade added) First Class (1st graduating class)Pay atTENtion (10th anniversary)Doubletalk (schools merge) Fine Mess (construction)
THE CREATIVE PROCESS — BRAINSTORMING
Theme: enROUTESchool: Oviedo HSEvent Theme:School Remodel, Year 3
This school has endured complete demolition & reconstruction for three years
Theme: Moving OnSchool: West Orange HSEvent Theme:School remodel
This school being remodeled
Consider location Don’t blink (small, one stop light)Hitting the High Spots (on a hill)What’s the Catch? (on a lake) Who’s on First? (on first St.)Outstanding in Our Field (in a field)
THE CREATIVE PROCESS — BRAINSTORMING
Theme: First & CentralSchool: Little Rock Central HSMascot: TigersColors: Gold & BlackPopulation: 2,553
Theme: Hoover at the CenterSchool: Hoover High School Mascot: PiratesColors: Orange & Black
Consider mascot or colorsFrom Ray to Z (stingrays)Good Knight!We Speak Pirate Miners Allowed (the miners)Great Scot! (Scottish highlanders)A Horse of a Different Color (Mustangs)
THE CREATIVE PROCESS — BRAINSTORMING
Theme: Bleed Black &GoldSchool: Hawamba High School Mascot: IndiansColors: Gold & Black
Compare and ContrastNow Look What You’ve Done!Inside OutThere’s One in Every CrowdFirst, the Good NewsWhat Next?Try Not to StareWhat’s Gotten into You?
THE CREATIVE PROCESS — BRAINSTORMING
Theme: there’s a FIRSTtime for everythingSchool: Maclay School
Why the theme: First time the school had a football team, field and was rated number one in the district for academics
Have funIt’s Not Easy Being GreenIt Takes All KindsYour Guess is as Good as MineDon’t Even Think About It!We Know You’re in ThereFor a Good Time CallSo?
THE CREATIVE PROCESS — BRAINSTORMING
Theme: Domin8School: New Smyrna Beach Middle SchoolMascot: ChargersColors: Green & GoldPopulation: 1,299
Theme: It’s About youSchool: Florence High SchoolMascot: EaglesColors: Red & White
Theme: me. you. we. School: Trinity HSColors: Red & WhitePopulation: 1,564
This theme also presents the individual experience vs. the group experience
Theme: i School: Oak Grove HSColors: Green & WhitePopulation: 1,310Notice that this theme emphasizes the individual warrior, the “I,” but the picture behind the “I” is the student population
Sweating it outKirkwood High SchoolKirkwood, Mo.H.L. Hall, adviser1991
Compare and ContrastNow Look What You’ve Done!Inside OutThere’s One in Every CrowdFirst, the Good NewsWhat Next?Try Not to StareWhat’s Gotten into You?
LET’S TRY IT
Compare and ContrastNow Look What You’ve Done!Inside OutThere’s One in Every CrowdFirst, the Good NewsWhat Next?Try Not to StareWhat’s Gotten into You?
LET’S TRY IT
unique original
one and onlyTHE (whatever)
differentstand alonestand out individualspecial
one of a kindjust for you singled outauthentic
nonconformist
rebel limited editionshort supply innovative
singleinventivevisionaryartistic
extraordinarybizarreatypical
particularpeculiarquirky
idiosyncraticcharacteristic
eccentricodd duckcreative exotic
dominantdiversealone
all by myselfdesigner
oddextremesoff beat
non-matched weird
oppositionalclashingdeviantdefined
exclusivepersonalizedunparalleledoutstanding
indescribableincomparable
mystic unsurpassed
EXPLORE THE MESSAGE OF THE THEME
What are other ways you can say “there’s one in every crowd”?
Apply verbal possibilities• Word Spin-offs• Alternate Word Spin-offs• Concept Spin-offs
THE CREATIVE PROCESS — BRAINSTORMING
Theme: There’s One in Every CrowdOpening:Student Life: Academics: Sports: Organizations: People: Ads/Community: Closing:
SINGLE WORD SPIN-OFFSUsing the word “one,” come up with possible section spin-offs
What are phrases that use “one”?One and all
One and onlyOne and the same
One at a timeOne by one
Then the next oneOne for the books
One for the record booksOne good turn deserves
anotherOne in a thousandOne in a hundredOne in a million
One jump ahead
One move aheadOne of these days
Wear more than one hatWith one hand tied behind
your backOne of those days
One upOne way or another
All in one breathAll in one piece
As oneAt one fell swoopDo you one better
Every last one
Go in one ear and out the other
Go you one betterHole in one
In one ear and out the otherJust one of those things
Kill two birds with one stoneLike one of the family
Off to one sideOn one handPull a fast one
Six of one and half a dozen of the other
EXPAND ON WORDS
Theme: red & whiteSchool: Camden Fairview High SchoolEnrollment: 849
The visual (ampersand) drives the theme development
Rule 1- Bloom.
Theme: OUR OWN beatSchool: Bellaire HS
Note how the theme logo is a visual representation of a sound What graphic elements will be used for visual development ?
What graphic elements will be used for visual development ?
Notice the repetition of background
Theme: NOISESchool: Lovejoy HS
Again, note how the theme logo is a visual representation of a sound
What graphic elements here will be used for visual development ?
Theme: me. you. we. School: Trinity HSColors: Red & whitePopulation: 1,564
EFFECTIVENESSDoes it apply to your entire school community?
APPLICABILITYWill it cover the ups & downs of the school year?
APPEALWill students relate to the theme?
• Does the theme copy specifically and interestingly spell out how the theme fits your school on all the theme pages?
• Is the theme unique to this school, this year?• Does the theme have graphic appeal?• Are good quotes used in the theme copy?• Does each copy block add something new to the
theme?
THEME PROCESS
Theme: FACE ITSchool: Olympia HS
Mascot: BisonColors: Blue, Black & White
Population: 1,564
The staff created stickers for every buyer and their sticker would show through the die-cut area replacing the mascot.
Theme: We Are ConnallySchool: Connally HSEvent Theme:School pride theme
Theme: Inspi(red)
School: Bishop Kenny HS
Mascot: Bison
Colors: Red &White
Endsheets begins the story
Theme: In the DetailsSchool: Red RaidersColors: Red and blackPopulation: 1,299
First senior class. School is three years old
WingsArrowhead Christian Academy
2009
• What do you think?• Can you have a themeless book?• Chronological books
Don’t do a theme because someone tells you to; do it because it’s right.
WHY HAVE A THEME?
Sketch and/or mock-up• Cover• Endsheets• Title page• Opening and/or closing• Division pages• Folio• Inside pages
THEME PACKET