A new school year means a fresh start, a new staff and a brand-new story to tell. Tuesday Tips is back every other Tuesday with quick ideas, inspiration and resources you can put to work with your staff.
And we’re kicking things off with one of the biggest decisions of the year — THEME!
LOOK FOR INSPIRATION IN YOUR YB KIT!
As you begin developing your theme, don’t forget to dig into your Balfour Yearbook Kit! Your kit includes the 2026 YBYB, featuring award-winning work from 2025 — including standout covers, spreads and photography from yearbook staffs across the country.
Use the YBYB as more than just a book of great ideas. Challenge your staff to look at why the examples work. How is the theme developed visually? Where do you see the concept carried beyond the cover? How do typography, photography, design and verbal elements work together?
TRY THIS WITH YOUR STAFF: Have each student choose one cover or spread from the YBYB that catches their attention. Then have them identify one idea they could learn from — not copy — and use to level up their own theme.
THIS WEEK: LEVEL UP YOUR THEME
A great theme is more than a catchy phrase and a cool cover. It creates a lens through which your staff can tell the story of your school, your students and this year.
As your staff starts brainstorming, challenge them to level up their ideas. Instead of stopping at the first clever phrase, ask: What does this really mean for us? Why does it fit this year? And how can we carry that idea throughout the entire book?
The strongest themes don't just work on the cover. They give you opportunities for verbal and visual connections from opening to closing — and plenty of places in between.
START WITH THE STORY, NOT THE SLOGAN. Before trying to name the theme, talk about the year. What feels different? What are students talking about? What makes your school unmistakably yours? What moments, traditions, changes or quirks could define this year?
Then put your ideas to the test: Could another school use this exact same theme and have it make just as much sense? If the answer is yes, you may need to dig a little deeper.
READY TO LEVEL UP?
Here are some resources you can use with your staff:
Leveling Up Your Theme — Use this presentation to help your staff move beyond a theme idea and begin thinking about how that concept can develop into a cohesive yearbook.
Theme Brainstorming Activity — Get everyone involved! Use this activity with your staff to generate ideas, make connections and start uncovering the story that is uniquely yours.
AND THERE’S MORE COMING…
Keep an eye on your inbox for new eMarketing plans designed to help you promote your yearbook and keep sales moving throughout the year. We’re also continuing to roll out Encore enhancements, and I’ll be sharing updates and tips to help you take advantage of new tools and features.
And don't forget about UpSkill, where you'll find even more training, inspiration and resources for you and your staff. Contact your Balfour representative for access to UpSkill.
Tuesday Tips will be back every other Tuesday with another idea you can put to work in your yearbook room.
Here’s to a great year — now go LEVEL UP that theme!
