Modular design for yearbooks is an approach to layout and design that emphasizes flexibility (just like your favorite yearbook company) and ease of content organization. Small, self-contained modules include photos, copy, and other theme content. With multiple reader entry points, a modular layout contains three or more, each telling a different story.
Learn the difference between traditional and modular design.
Four Modular Layout Ideas
Because modular design has many interpretations and applications, we pulled together four different looks.
Idea 1: Let Your Story Be Your Guide
This spread covers the middle school schedule, media program, study habits, and electives in six modules. There is a large amount of copy beyond the feature story and a quote “sidebar” running down the middle of the spread.
Idea 2: Give the Whole Picture
This varied collection of mods includes a quote package, personality profile, election results, and event coverage. In a chronological yearbook, such as this, modular layouts help organize myriad stories on a single spread.
Idea 3: Start Small
Not only did the six polls reveal more about the faculty, but the yearbook editors added quotes and cutouts to teach us more. Adding a mod to the people or reference section is one way to add voices to an otherwise flat section.
Idea 4: Drag and Drop
Low on copy, high on images, this sample spread with four modules provides ample space to detail aspects of art creation. As-is, this layout is available with the others in the Maximalist theme under layout and design for Treering Yearbooks editors. Other modular themes include Tropical Chronicles and Tied Together.
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Pros and Cons of Mods
While modular design increases coverage opportunities, it takes more planning from your editorial team.
Pro: Coverage
Devoting a spread to one topic limits the coverage to one group. Opening up a sidebar or two increases your possibilities to tell more of the year.
Pro: Collaboration
On larger teams, modular design facilitates collaboration among a team of yearbook contributors. Section editors can distribute interview and photography assignments by topic.
A quick note for advisers: assigning module topics is also a way to combat the “I have nothing to do” line that tends to get tossed around the newsroom.
Pro: Consistency
Recurring modules maintain a consistent look and feel throughout the yearbook, which strengthens the theme and overall design.
Con: Planning
Frankly, some content may not neatly fit into modular structures. It’s fetch. And if not managed carefully, modular design may lead to overusing the same design elements. There’s a fine line between consistency and monotony.
Yearbook Module Ideas
The most popular yearbook mods tend to be sidebars with a question-and-answer format. If you want to add something new to your yearbook layouts this year, this is one way to increase coverage and develop open-ended questions.
Consider building in these additional modules:
- This or that: fashion, fandoms
- Matching: teachers with their first jobs, the shoe to the sport
- How-tos/step-by-step: prep for an inside and outside pirouette, outline a DBQ essay
- Flat lays: teachers’ desks, backpacks
- Essential gear: art kit, robotics team
- Timelines: getting ready for a school dance, fundraiser from start to finish
- Lists: five ways to welcome new students, 10 reasons people auditioned for the spring musical
This blog is adapted from Liz Thompson’s Design 201 session from TRL 23: Start Here. Thompson, a former high school yearbook adviser, serves as a customer success manager with Treering Yearbooks.
