Yearbook Theme

Create a theme to help tell the story of this year of TCU high school.

Theme is a broad idea or message conveyed by a work. It is usually a message about life,

society or human nature.

Subject and theme are not the same.

Theme is…

• The attitude or personality of the year for your school

• A perfect medium to tell the story that will be remembered by everyone

• A way to record the events and remember the milestones of the year

• Different for every year and for every book

Theme should…

• Relate to the schoolThere should be an obvious tie between

the school and the theme. For example if school morale is low - DO NOT choose a pride theme.

• Relate to the yearMajor school events and/or circumstances

that occur during the year provide logical and appropriate theme choices.

Theme should…

• Be verbalThe catch phrase should be memorable

and flexible so that it can be adapted to theme copy, captions and mini-themes or spin-offs.

Theme should…

• Be visual A theme look is created by using fonts,

graphic elements and colors that are consistent with the message.

Theme should…

Where do we see theme?

• CoverCatch phrase may be actually stated, but at

the least, the cover sets up the mood/tone reflected in the theme.

Pleasant Valley High

School Valkyrie

Where do we see theme?

• End SheetsThis promotes a unifying idea, either with

color choice or through use of headlines, copy, photos, artwork, captions and/or graphics.

Where do we see theme?

• Title PagesThe content and design reflects the theme

idea. The title of the book is the most important type element.

Where do we see theme?

• Opening Pagesusually two or three spreads that relates

theme to school in general, but with specific facts and details.

Where do we see theme?

• Closing Pageslast spread(s) and final page serves as a

wrap-up to theme and school year.

Where do we see theme?

• Division Pagesshow how each section relates to theme

idea.

Your job…Use a yearbook from a non-area

school

Determine…

• What is their theme?• What mood are they trying to convey?

Determine…

• What is the visual representation of their theme?

• What graphic elements are repeated?• What shapes, patterns and colors are used to

define the different sections?• How does the font reflect the theme?

Determine…

• For each of the sections we discussed, determine how the theme relates to the year and the school.

• For each of the sections we discussed, determine how the theme is visual and verbal.

Determine…

• What message or idea do you think is being conveyed by the theme?

• What can we deduce from the yearbook of that school?