What is design? It is the way that objects are arranged on individual spreads. It could be a sparse and contemporary design with tons of white space and hairline rules, or a spread with wall-to-wall designs with tons of photographs bleeding off the page.

Understanding the key elements of design and the basic concepts of layout will allow your team to breathe new life into your yearbook.

The Five Elements of Design

The difference between the concepts of design and layout is simple. Laying out the pages and placing the photo and copy on a spread is not design. Design is about how its five main elements are arranged.

1. Lines are an integral element of a yearbook spread. Lines that connect to form shapes, spacing, and simple lines give direction to a spread.
2. Shape in graphic design tends to focus on squares, triangles, and circles. A yearbook shape leans heavily on rectangles, the natural shape of a photograph.
3. Mass forms through the addition of shapes. Your choice of font style will also create a shape on the layout and affect the overall design.
4. Texture (how something looks on the surface) occurs in a yearbook spread when a photo is close-cropped, or a drop shadow is applied.
5. Colour is a very important design element and is usually described using such words as hue, saturation, and lightness. Fully understanding the use of colour on a spread is key to a vibrant yearbook.