Yearbook Tutorial Layouts

What is a layout?  A layout is how all the elements are arranged on the page: –Photographs –Copy (the text) –Graphics (artwork, lines, etc.)  In yearbook design, a layout is a double page spread.

There are rules for layout design.  Rule #1: Design pages as doublepage spreads.  Rule #2: Work from the center to the edges.  Rule #3: Do not trap white space.  Rule #4: Use columns to line up your elements.  Rule #5: Use consistent internal margins.

Rule #6  Break any of the above rules once you know what you’re doing…but only for a really, really, really good reason.

Standard Layout Designs  Mosaic –Why do you think the following layout is called a mosaic?

 Another mosaic layout:

 An example from an actual yearbook page using a mosaic layout: from Torrey Pines yearbook 2003

 Another standard layout design is called a module design:

 Here is another example of a modular layout.

 Here is another mosaic type of layout called a smokestack. It is almost a modular design, except one photograph breaks the straight line at the top.

 Here is an example from an actual yearbook: from San Dieguito Academy yearbook 2003

 This is another type of mosaic layout, but it isn’t modular because it isn’t straight on the top.  Instead, this is called a skyline mosaic.

Creating Layouts  Standard layouts are good places to start.  Page Surfer has pre-made layouts.  Award-winning yearbooks are good places to get ideas.  Looking at popular magazines can also inspire good layout designs.  NOTE: Editors usually design most of the layouts.

What Do You Need to Know About Layouts if You Aren’t Creating Them?  If you have been assigned to work on a page in the yearbook, you must know what the layout is, because you will need the following information: –How many, and what type of photos will you need (horizontal, vertical, square, dominant)?

–Is there room for a caption for each photograph? If so, is the space large (2-3 sentence caption) or small (1 short sentence)? –How much room is there for an article and headline? –Is there a sidebar or scoreboard or “up close and personal” interview that needs to be researched? –What colors are going to be used? Any artwork or tool lines? Background color? –And the most important: What section is the layout for?

Final Notes About Layouts  To create an award-winning book, following the expected rules for layouts impresses the judges.  In addition, consistency within a section of the yearbook (for instance, the sports section has the same style of layouts throughout) impresses the judges.  Finally, creativity and artistic skill are impressive too!

Some Award-Winning Yearbook Layouts

From the Academics/Faculty Section Marian HS 2003

The next examples are from San Dieguito Academy’s 2003 yearbook. The theme is “BE.” Look for how they carry out the theme in the layouts.

The next pages are from Scripps Ranch HS 2003 Yearbook. The theme is hard to get the first time, but it helps if you know their school was 10 years old last year.

And here is the book that usually wins Best of Show each year: Torrey Pines HS. We’re not quite ready for their level of play, but their layouts are always interesting, so take a look.

Works Cited  The example layouts were taken from an old textbook about yearbooks.  The yearbook examples were from yearbooks on display at the San Diego County Fair (formerly the Del Mar Fair) in June 2003.