Page 63 - Jostens Yearbook_Adviser Guide

HOW TO BUILD 3.3

YOUR THEME

Theme development should be seen as an evolving

conversation. At the beginning the focus is on ideas and
direction. Students should consider facts about their school

and/or the specific year. They should look at the tone they
want to covey. Sophisticated? Traditional? Fun? Spirited?
They may notice that customized themes shy away from

inanimate things like colors, mascots, buildings, the year,
etc—even though all of these may play an important role in
James Bowie High School, TX
the development of the concept into a relevant, tangible story
of the school community.
CLOSING PAGE(S)

■ Closing finishes the theme story After the ideas have been born, theme
development moves its focus to the verbal
■ Generally uses the final spread and the and visual connections, layering of the
last page (parting page) concept in coverage with purposeful
■ Uses a design very similar, if not graphic enhancement.
identical to the opening
VERBAL CONNECTIONS

PARTING PAGE Verbal development seeks to determine
the slogan or theme title, these words are “IN THE MOMENT”
■ The final page of the yearbook central to the theme concept. Spin-offs of This theme put iPad
■ Carefully selected words and pictures the main slogan help provide verbal unity cameras in the hands of the
student body and tasked
make a strong, final theme statement throughout the book. them with capturing a
moment special and unique
■ Design can be similar to the title page Allowing ideas to take shape, involves to them.
■ Design carries over technique from translating words into pictures, creating a
the cover, title page, opening/closing theme design that creatively supports the
and dividers slogan and stands out from the rest of
the yearbook.

Kealing Middle School, TX
James Bowie High School, TX

62 SECTION 3.2 WHERE READERS SHOULD SEE THEME IN A YEARBOOK THEME 63