As a yearbook publishing company, we are often asked to provide our expert opinion about the yearbook publishing process. One question that is repeated time and again is what are the best ways to develop a yearbook theme, or ideas for developing your yearbook theme. YearbookLife is happy to share some yearbook theme ideas for your elementary, middle or high school yearbook project.
What is a Yearbook Theme?
- Consider the yearbook theme as the attitude or personality of the year for your school
- It is a perfect medium to tell a story that will be remembered by all in a positive or spirit-related format
- Your school yearbook should record the events of the year and celebrate the milestones of the year under the unified story format of your the theme.
- School yearbook themes come in different shapes and sizes based upon the attitude of the year.
- Yearbook themes are discussed and portrayed in all sections of the yearbook, especially on the cover, endsheets, title pages, opening pages, closing pages, and division pages for each section of the yearbook.
Possible Yearbook Themes
The key to developing a theme is making sure you address the theme in every section of the yearbook. Here are a few themes you can consider just for starters:
- A Cut Above
- A Day in the Life
- A Flash from the Past
- A New Awakening
- A New Point of View
- A Season of Change
- A Step Above the Rest
- A Touch of Class
- Anyway You Slice It
- Attention to Detail
- Between the Lines
- Breaking Thru
- Built to Last
- Capture the Magic
- Catch the Moments
- Caught in the Act
Choose a theme and begin to develop it.
Example of a Theme
The key to developing a yearbook theme is making sure you address the theme in every section of the yearbook as well as the cover and endsheets (if applicable).
Consider playing off words of the theme as titles for each section or work on conceptual themes that play of an idea vs. words.
Consider working with a theme like: “Inside & Out”
- Stud. Life: Inside our Walls
- Sports: On the Sidelines
- Clubs: Siding with Others
- Portraits: Side by Side
- Acad.: Sides of Success
- Ads: Outside our walls…
Did you notice how a word that is part of the theme is developed and ties to yearbook theme as well?