THEME

 
Theme Introduction
Essentials

Learn about the roles different theme elements play in a yearbook and some theme types.

7/7/21 – Katy Hoffstatter, Anne Martin

 
Keep your Theme in the Driver Seat as you Plan Your Coverage and Design
Expert

Walk through the ways a theme can unfold and be the driving force behind how you tell the stories of the year.

7/7/21 – Nancy Smith

 
Finding Inspiration
Expert

Encouraging everyone on your staff to seek out visuals they like will create a collection of colors, fonts and type treatments you can use in many ways. Here are great ways to find inspiration.

7/7/21 – Katie Merritt and Sergio Yanes

COVERAGE

 
Many Ways to Tell the Story
Essentials

The fact that the same spread topic is covered each year does not mean you should tell the “same old story“ time and time again. Creative staffs brainstorm new angles, different coverage strategies and more to tell the stories of the year.

7/13/22 – Ann Akers

 
Making Your Coverage Inclusive
Essentials

If you’re up for the challenge of telling new and different stories of as many people, groups and events as possible, you’ll find these tips helpful as you attempt to cover the whole school and the whole year.

7/13/22 – Erinn Harris

 
Mining Stories
Essentials

Find the “golden nuggets” that will delight your readers by actively digging for the compelling stories that lurk all around you.

7/14/22 – Michele Paolini

 
A Different Book Every Year
Next-Level

FOMO rules! Not only will changing things every year encourage your staff to be more creative, it makes the process more interesting. And, it should convince the readers that they never want to miss out!

7/13/22 – Erinn Harris

 
Finding Coverage that Tells the Story of the Year
Next-Level

Stories won’t magically appear in your yearbook room. You have to go find them. Learn how to make sure you get the stories that best tell your story.

7/7/21 – Nancy Smith

 
It’s All In The Details
Expert

Details can make or break your book. This class will show you everything to cover to make sure your book is complete and accurate.

7/8/21 – Nancy Smith

DESIGN

 
Finding Inspiration/Making It Your Own
Essentials

You’ll learn about some great sources design inspiration and see some trending looks, but, most importantly, understand the difference between re-executing a look and being inspired to create the perfect answer for your project.

7/13/22 – Erinn Harris

 
Color: Use It, Don’t Abuse It
Essentials

I love Skittles, but I shouldn’t taste the rainbow when I flip through your yearbook. Learn how to both create a cohesive color scheme that ties into your theme and carry it out throughout the book effectively.

7/13/22 – Katy Hoffstatter

 
Understanding Square One
Essentials

Go through the process of planning and creating a yearbook spread using this powerful Herff Jones tool.

7/13/22 – Katy Hoffstatter

 
Just My Type
Essentials

These five typographical tips will help elevate your design. We’ll talk font pairing, voice, accent fonts, hierarchy and visual relationship — and your type will shine!

7/13/22 – Meredith Bledsoe

 
Type Matters
Essentials

One of the key pieces that will pull together any yearbook is the use of type. It’s important to know the ins-and-outs of type that works together and gain a better understanding of how fonts communicate messages to readers long before they ever read a single word of your yearbook!

7/13/22 – Nicole Laughrey

 
Modern Design Trends
Essentials

Be inspired by yearbook spread designs from across the country — and learn what makes them fresh.

7/7/21 – Dan Mueller

 
Trending & Timeless
Next-Level

In some ways, yearbook design is not all that different than fashion or interior design. Great books can create a lasting visual timestamp of the year, anchoring the volume in a very specific timeframe. Or, they can designed to stand the test of time. Looking at both trending techniques and classic principles will help you design with intention.

7/13/22 – Kyle Lewis & Ann Akers

 
Beyond the Words
Next-Level

Effective, high-impact headline design is just as important as crafting those phrases to attract attention and guide readers to the copy. See how contrast and consistency in an array of patterns help staffs create an identity for a book or section without becoming redundant.

7/13/22 – Rebecca McGrath

 
How to Wow Visually
Next-Level

Learn about key factors in yearbook design that WOW readers.

7/7/21 – Katy Hoffstatter

 
The Power of Hierarchy
Expert

Create spreads that make sense to readers without them even knowing why. It’s about scale and level of importance, and it will transform your book.

7/13/22 – Robin Christopher

 
White Space Is Your Friend
Expert

Learn more about using white space to help direct your readers around the spread and help them understand how you want them to consume the content you’ve provided. Raise the bar on your designs with your consistent — and planned — use of this powerful design tool.

7/7/21 – Sergio Yanes

 
Look to the Pros for Trends in Design
Expert

We are surrounded by professional design. See examples that can inspire your theme work and other parts of your book!

7/7/21 – Nancy Smith

eDesign

 
In the Know
Essentials

Join eDesign Product Manager Mark Childers for an exciting overview of eDesign and the yearbook goodness it brings. This fast-paced introduction is appropriate for all staffers, both new and returning. Mark will provide an overview of eDesign, highlighting the latest features and demonstrating the creative power eDesign provides.

7/13/22 – Mark Childers

 
All About the Efficiency
Essentials

eDesign is about so much more than exciting design. Its organizational and tracking efficiencies maximize productivity and minimize stress — and that’s a lot to cheer about! Today we’ll cover tips and tricks for setting up eDesign and working efficiently throughout the year. All are welcome to attend this session, but the content will be most applicable to advisers and editors.

7/14/22 – Mark Childers

 
Canva Wow
Essentials

Our exclusive relationship with Canva makes adding cool graphic effects to your pages as easy as imagining the possibilities!

7/14/22 – Natalie White

 
Canva: It’s the Design for Me
Essentials

Elevating your yearbook design doesn’t have to be rocket science. Get #IB what others are doing to make their book stand out. We will break it down so you have the tools you need to make your spreads go viral.

7/13/22 – Katy Hoffstatter

 
eDesign: The Power is Yours
Essentials

These are aspects of eDesign everyone on staff needs to understand. This is a great place to get started.

7/13/22 – Joanna Pennoyer

 
eDesign Organization
Essentials

Understand the tools that help you organize your book, your deadlines, the staff and your photos.

7/13/22 – Joanna Pennoyer

 
Page Builder Tools
Essentials

Learn about the fundamental tools used to create a spread.

7/13/22 – Joanna Pennoyer

 
Reports and eShare
Essentials

From tracking coverage and sales to helping solicit photos, eDesign does it all.

7/14/22 – Joanna Pennoyer

 
eDesign: Design a Layout
Essentials

Walk through creating a layout from scratch using eDesign, learning how to use Square One mods and how to adjust and clean up a layout to prepare it for production.

7/8/21 – Katy Hoffstatter, Dan Mueller

 
More eDesign Page Builder Tools
Next-Level

These additional tools provide even more powerful functionality.

7/13/22 – Joanna Pennoyer

 
eDesign Wow
Next-Level

Don’t miss out on important features like Caption Builder, the Align tool and portrait page wizards that will make you smile.

7/13/22 – Joanna Pennoyer

PHOTOGRAPHY

 
Photography Basics Anyone Can Use
Essentials

Raise the bar on photography with these guidelines, tips and tricks.

7/14/22 – Natalie White

 
Setting Up A Photo System
Expert

Talk with advisers about establishing a coverage plan for photography and learn ideas to organize the photos once they are off the camera!

7/7/21 – Debra Klevens

WRITING

 
Let the Story Tell the Story
Essentials

Say goodbye to boring “reports” and hello to compelling features full of quotes and interesting details.

7/14/22 – Erinn Harris

 
50 Ways to Tell a Story
Essentials

Mods. Sidebars. Alternative Story Forms. Whatever you call them, they are a great way to expand your publication’s coverage, play with design and explore unique forms of storytelling. If you’re stuck in a picture and quote rut, this session will give you some new ideas.

7/14/22 – Erinn Harris

 
Worth 1,000 Words
Essentials

Learn the formulas that will help you master the lost art of caption writing

7/14/22 – Nicole Laughrey

 
Interviewing and Story Angles
Essentials

Figure out how to conduct an interview and focus in on a strong story angle.

7/8/21 – Dan Mueller

 
Captions
Essentials

Help your photos maintain (or even grow) in value through the years by capturing the details that will help memories last forever.

7/8/21 – Danielle Corgan

 
Talking to Strangers
Essentials

To get the story you have to get out of the classroom and talk to people — not just your friends. Get over your fears and learn how to get great stories from strangers.

7/8/21 – Jeff Kuchno, Ann Akers

 
Writing a Journalistic Story: Facts, Figures and Feelings
Next-Level

Learn to take the information you’ve gathered and craft a journalistic story.

7/8/21 – Nancy Smith

 
Yearbook And the Law
Next-Level

Learn about legal rights and responsibilities of student journalists and some of the common questions and pitfalls.

7/8/21 – Nancy Smith

SALES + PROMOTION

 
Six Ways to Make Book Sales Fly
Essentials

Make book sales a priority with the sales campaigns and tips.

7/13/22 – Natalie White

 
Social Media Best Practices
Essentials

Learn why your staff should use social media to crowdsource ideas and content, sell books and keep yearbook front and center in the school — and how to drive engagement with tips and tricks for success.

7/14/22 – Sondra Vernengo Robison

 
Understanding and Reaching Your Buyers
Essentials

If you don’t already have staffers dedicated to selling the yearbook (and ads), consider recruiting some additions to the roster.

7/14/22 – Katelan Barron

 
Use Your Influence
Next-Level

Grow your following like the successful influencers do — with regular on-brand messaging, the chance to engage and both consistency and surprises. TikTok and Reels rule here. Like yearbook, social is a creative endeavor that’s part art and part science.

7/14/22 – Sondra Vernengo Robison

 
Building Your Brand Through Social Media
Next-Level

Learn about extending your publication’s coverage, developing a recognizable brand and putting out high quality content on your platforms of choice.

7/8/21 – Jen Ortman

ELEMENTARY

 
How to YBK
Essentials

With so many resources at your fingertips, here’s how to find them and how to use them. We’ll cover everything from the My HJ and yearbookdiscoveries.com to eDesign help and the kit.

7/14/22 – Caroline Mattox

 
Money Talks
Essentials

It can be a good thing to be a sellout. Learn how to find online book sales information and how to promote to parents through various channels. Beginning with a quick eBiz overview, book sales support, social media, we’ll cover resources that work.

7/14/22 – Caroline Mattox

 
Filling the Pages
Essentials

Nail down what to cover, how to cover it and how you don’t have to yearbook alone. Learn about what to include, planning out pages, how to ask for help and using eShare.

7/14/22 – Caroline Mattox

 
Book Build Out
Essentials

You don’t have to be a graphic artist to have an amazing yearbook!

7/14/22 – Natalie White

 
Getting Started As An Elementary Adviser
Essentials

Planning ahead is the key to success. Get your strategy set, from choosing a look to recruiting contributors.

7/7/21 – Anne Martin

 
Building Your Book: Elementary Coverage
Essentials

Get a plan in place for what will go on each page of your book. Learn about different coverage options so you can plan all content for your book.

7/7/21 – Anne Martin

 
Designing with HJ Templates in eDesign
Essentials

Walk through picking out styles and using pre-made layouts for your eDesign book.

7/7/21 – Katy Hoffstatter

Advisers + Editors

 
Habits of Highly Effective Editors
Best Practices

Aspiring staffers often observe their own editors, hoping to follow in their footsteps in years to come. Learn about key traits that set all kinds of leaders apart and begin working right now to become a respected editor remembered for all the right reasons.

7/14/22 – Joseph Maffey

 
10 Hacks to Yearbook Smarter, Not Harder
Best Practices

Learn about tried & true processes for organizing the chaos so your staff can maximize productivity and create a quality publication. Topics covered include deadline organization, theme prep, staff collaboration, grading, and more.

7/14/22 – Jen Ortman

 
You Be the Judge
Best Practices

Guidelines that judges will follow in reviewing yearbooks for regional, state and national competitions are also helpful in maintaining usefulness and added value to your own publications over time. Prepare to think about the details that will give your publication that competitive edge with judges and with your readers.

7/14/22 – Ray Slye

 
Speed Topics
Best Practices

A series of four-minute speed sessions with details about small, but important, aspects of yearbook: Club Photo Day, Inclusion, Sales and Headshots.

7/7/21 – YBK-STL faculty

 
Advisers: How to Teach Design
Best Practices

Design is not easy. Learn how to walk your students through these important steps in creating layouts that work for yearbook.

7/7/21 – Nancy Smith

 
Deadline Planning
Best Practices

Think ahead, gather school and event calendars, plot out the year and set your own deadlines that will beat your plant deadlines. Make your year stress free.

7/7/21 – Teenie Reddeck

 
Production Planning
Best Practices

Get tips and strategies for how to plan out your year to balance coverage, workload and deadlines.

7/8/21 – Nancy Smith

 
Deadline Planning
Staff Organization

Think ahead, gather school and event calendars, plot out the year and set your own deadlines to beat your plant deadlines. You can do this!

7/14/22 – Teenie Reddeck

 
Relationships Matter
Staff Organization

A shared purpose and strong culture will unify your staff, and there are other people on campus you need to work well with as well.

7/14/22 – Erinn Harris

 
The Fundamentals
Staff Organization

There’s no question that yearbook involves a lot of hard work, but the best programs also make sure that’s balanced with good times too.

7/14/22 – Erinn Harris

 
Staff Infection
Staff Organization

Create the kind of infectious team morale you want and need to last through the deadline season. Come and learn how to create an enthusiasm that spreads!

7/14/22 – Natalie White

 
Plan for Success & Celebrate It
Staff Organization

Successful yearbook leaders understand the delicate balance between rigor and flexibility/organization and celebration. Ensure staff success with planning, training and communication — and make sure your successes and hard work are recognized.

7/14/22 – Caroline Mattox

 
How to Build Your Team
Staff Organization

Hear more about best practices for working with your staff and helping them improve throughout the year.

7/8/21 – Nancy Smith