Looming submission deadlines can be stressful for yearbook teams to navigate, especially when a project’s content is thinner than initially planned. Adding great-looking content to a yearbook in the final hours before submission can be tricky, but it’s not an unachievable feat. Last-minute yearbook page ideas that add depth and value to a yearbook – not just a page number are possible, even when the pressure to submit a draft is high.
Using the tools you have at your fingertips and some creative thinking, you can inject high-quality, story-telling pages you’ll be proud to publish. To help yearbook teams create last-minute yearbook page ideas that are both compelling and easy to make, FutureBook Yearbooks has compiled the following tips and ideas.
Yearbook Page Idea Inspiration – Use What You Have
Inspiration for curating last-minute yearbook pages should come from resources already acquired during the school year. Basically, use what you have on hand to generate additional pages. This is not the time to collect new images or to conduct research and personal interviews.
It’s best to sift through the content that staff have been collecting and organizing for months. For example, comb through images and see if a previously rejected idea can be repurposed in a new and exciting way.
Don’t Let Yearbook Page Ideas Stray From Your Theme
Page ideas that yearbook staff can use for last-minute inspiration should complement the content already produced, not stray from it. It may be tempting to add new details, colours, or template designs, but try to resist those urges.
The best way to create amazing pages last minute is to remain consistent with the project’s style guidelines. Following your yearbook style guide will help prevent errors that can easily happen when in a rush. Folio errors, different text sizes, and inconsistent colours can make a page look sloppy and unprofessional.
Expand Existing Yearbook Page Ideas
Does a section or topic in your yearbook look overcrowded? Or, is there a page that you wish you could have added more? When looking to add more pages to your project, crowded pages and unused content is a great place to start.
For example, is there room to expand the senior section this year, by making their portraits larger? At a time when Senior activities are limited, there will be a lot of fanfare for increased visibility.
Re-Imagine Ideas
If concerns about adding more of a specific topic or event will end up dominating your project, seek a new perspective on using those pieces of content.
For example, if there’s a surplus of volleyball game team images, consider using the extras to create a timeline of the team’s competition year. This could include game dates, final scores, locations, and opposing team names.
Lighten Crowded Pages
Good content that is appealing, interesting and relevant to the readers is never a bad idea for your yearbook pages. This is applicable even if that means adding more pages than initially intended for one subject or event.
Pages that are crammed with information can be overwhelming to the reader’s overall experience. It’s best to have consistent levels of content on yearbook pages to create an aesthetically appealing book. When seeking ways to add pages, look to expand on pages containing noticeably more content than others.
Yearbook Page Ideas Perfect for Personalization
Being short on content is no excuse for a yearbook to be a few pages shorter than a full book. Consider page ideas where students can add their personal touch to the pages. This is a genius way for a student to turn their yearbook into a treasured keepsake.
Simple ideas for pages students can personalize include:
- Autograph pages
- Journal entry lead-ins
- Themed Q&A page
- Inspiring quotes
- Fun Facts
Repurpose Student Works for Extra Yearbook Page Ideas
Student art, school newspaper articles, and other student works can be used to add relevant content pages to school yearbooks at the last minute.
Transition Sections with Art Images
Yearbook staff can use student-created art to transition from one yearbook section to another. For example, if a yearbook is organized by grade, a transition page featuring the paintings or drawings of that grade’s students is a beautiful way to segue into the next section. Your school’s art teacher may be able to help with this.
Add a Graduating Students Throwback
Create fun, throwback-themed pages with images of the year’s graduating class captured in previous years alongside current photos. These can include past student life images or class photos. Yearbook editors can use “Then and Now” themed pages for a cute way to showcase the school’s teachers, administrators, and support staff.
Add a Year In Review Time Capsule
Summarize the year’s events in a few short pages is ideal for creating beautiful pages when short on time. FutureBook can provide you with a multi-page year-in-review section that’s full colour, and complete with images and information about this past year. Contact your FutureBook representative for pricing and page count options, to include the content most relevant to you.
Yearbook Pages Ideas Help Tell Your School’s Story
Focusing on the quality of your yearbook pages should always take priority over the number of pages. Too few pages in a yearbook can be disappointing to students, but books that lack good content or are without good flow are much worse.
Finding the right balance between the number of pages and quality content is essential to creating a great yearbook. Need more last-minute yearbook ideas or guidance? The team at FutureBook Yearbooks is ready to help with your yearbook design and publishing needs. Get support by reaching out to our expert representatives today.
