Making It Your Own

Putting inspiration pieces to work in your yearbook

Decorated and dedicated yearbook adviser and advocate Mike Simons takes viewers on an impressively deep dive in his “Making It Your Own” session.

With numerous examples of professional work and how to use the “yearbook blender” effectively, he breaks down theme inspiration — both visual and verbal. Simons asks attendees to describe your theme like it’s a person. Those details should feed into your “pretty hunt.”

Steps for inspo success

Remember your final product should be an evolution — not a duplication.

Find inspiration everywhere. He lists several sites/sources in the video.
Copy the piece exactly. Seriously, like the whole thing.
Start tweaking. Keep going. Incorporate other theme elements. Change something else.
Make your final touches. And, don’t forget to print it out.

Six ways to make the design your own

Color
Typography
Photo treatments
Shape and design elements
Type and photo packaging
Coverage and mod ideas

Learn more about how to turn examples you like into designs (and components) that work for your book, your school, this year. Watch the video. (Don’t miss out: Link expires on Oct. 15.)