Identify the contents of your yearbook, and, consequently, how many pages you need. Keep a file or notebook to write down all the decisions and calculations you make. A larger yearbook costs more to produce, so bear this in mind before adding too many pages. Establish themes for each page or chapter of the yearbook. Have a brainstorming session with people who want to be involved to finalize details.
Allocate one subject per page, or pages, to keep the layout simple. Do not try to cram too many items onto one page. For example, allocate three pages to remember "Student Life," or one page for the "Best Teacher." Be logical and fair while distributing pages. Give each football team a page, for example, instead of favoring one over the other.
Make a draft version with colored paper to check that the layout works. For example, if the yearbook is to be 100 pages long, cut out 100 pages from colored paper. Then draw boxes on each page and write page contents inside each box. This exercise helps to visualize the final product. Divide the pages between the members of your group so you don't have to do all 100.
Rework the yearbook and the page order. By doing this physically you get a feel for how the finished product will look. Seek advice from a teacher, printing expert or fellow students to moderate the design to suit the year.
Use a software package to begin creating each page of the yearbook. Plan each page according to your paper design. Create a basic skeleton. Add blocks of color to show where you want pictures to be inserted, add the titles and page numbers and build up the text on each page.
Assess each page as it is completed. Following simple guidelines will ensure the yearbook layout is professional. For example, do not leave any blank white spaces as the page will look unfinished.
Try applying the rule of thirds to the layout. This is a simple concept some artists and photographers use. For example, make three columns of text instead of four. Add a picture in the middle, or to the left and right to balance the page out. Or, if you imagine the page divided into nine equal sized boxes, then use these to structure the items on the page.
Use consistent font styles on each page to make the project cohesive. The layout you create will be less confusing to look at and less cluttered. Experiment with font styles, but stick to using only one to three per page of the yearbook.