Creating a yearbook for your school or organization can be a whole lot of fun and an exciting challenge. Many people worry that if they don't have design skills or have never taken on a big project like a yearbook before they won't have the skills to keep up. The truth is that with the right software and an open mind, anyone can design and put out a fantastic yearbook. If you're considering taking charge of the yearbook for your school, organization, or office, read on for skills and tools you'll want to rely on.
Tech-Friendly Design Software Usage
The most important skill you can have to design a yearbook is the ability to use tech-friendly design software that you can easily find online through places like Mixbook. With Mixbook, you can easily make a yearbook without having any design experience of your own. This program can walk you through the steps of laying out pages using templates that you can customize around your school's yearbook theme.
One of the benefits of using a software program to get your yearbook rolling is that it also means access to customer service where you can have your questions answered if you get stuck along the way. For example, when it comes time to print out a proof of your project or send it to a printer, you may run into issues with bleed lines or resolution. However, a customer service representative can help you to get your project ready for a polished print finish.
People Skills and Teamwork
A yearbook is meant to commemorate the experience of many people. To make the best yearbook possible, you'll want to spend time talking to people to collect their stories and experiences. Reaching out to classmates, staff, and others who can represent your school or organization is a good way to ensure that your yearbook is well-rounded. If you already possess great communication skills, those will be useful in gathering information. If you don't, running a yearbook is a great time to practice getting to know other people and collecting information—a skill you can bring with you into the future.
Organization and Follow Through
For your yearbook to be a success, your ability to plan ahead will be critical. Because you'll need information from others and likely work with a team, you'll want to extend those communication skills to an organized system where everyone can access the information they need. Starting early by making decisions about who will collect files and how they will be stored will even make using the software easier as you move forward in your project.
If you're an organized person at home and in school, you're already three steps ahead of a person who thrives in chaos. Use your organization skills to assign tasks to members of your yearbook staff and consider implementing tricks you already use to stay organized here. Maybe you use a color-coded system to keep track of assignments. Doing the same with yearbook files will help.
At the end of the day, you're bound to have a yearbook you and your classmates or other peers are proud of if you put your mind to it, plan ahead, invest in the right programs, and reach out to others for collaborations. Doing what you can to have fun with the project and making it a group effort when possible are other ways you'll come out with a yearbook you look back on fondly for years. Best of luck to you and your cohort as you work together to put out the perfect yearbook! You've got this.