What Makes a Great Yearbook?

A Guide for Irish Schools

Every school year holds stories worth telling. From class trips and GAA matches to inside jokes, friendships, and final goodbyes—these are the moments that define a school year. A great yearbook captures them all, not just as a record, but as a legacy.

But what actually makes a yearbook great? Whether you’re a TY coordinator, principal, or student council rep, here’s what every Irish school should know before starting their next yearbook project.

 

 

Why Yearbooks Still Matter

In a digital-first world, it might seem like yearbooks are no longer essential. But printed yearbooks are more important than ever. They offer something no screen ever can:

– A physical reminder of a shared experience
– A permanent archive of your school’s identity
– A gift of belonging, especially for students leaving primary or secondary school

Yearbooks also do something subtle but powerful: they help students connect with each other in new ways. In school, it’s easy for students to stay within their friend groups, or to quietly move through the day without ever truly knowing others in their class. A yearbook gives every student a voice—and offers a window into the personalities, stories, and lives of those around them.

It becomes a bridge. Years after graduation, students flip through their yearbooks and discover things they never knew about the people they sat beside every day.

A great yearbook brings communities together, celebrates culture, and captures untold stories—leaving something real and lasting, long after the Snapchat stories disappear.

 

The Key Ingredients of a Great Yearbook

What separates a forgettable yearbook from one that’s passed around for years? It comes down to a few essentials—each of which we focus on meticulously at AerEthos.

 

1. Authentic Student Voice

A yearbook should sound like the students who lived it—not just the staff who organised it.

That’s why every AerEthos yearbook is built around genuine voices:
– Thoughtful quotes from classmates, teachers, and even parents
– Funny polls and superlatives like “Most Likely to Rule the World” or “Biggest Glow-Up”
– Stories, shoutouts, and inside jokes written by students themselves

It’s not just a school record—it’s a time capsule of your class’s personality.

 

2. Strong Visual Identity

A great yearbook doesn’t just capture memories—it looks like it belongs to your school.

We build every book around a clean, consistent visual style:
– Cohesive colours and themes that match your school’s tone
– Modern layouts that are easy to read and beautiful to flip through
– Zero clipart, clutter, or “DIY” feel

Every page is designed from scratch to reflect the spirit of your students—and to stand the test of time.

 

3. Balanced, Memorable Content

The best yearbooks go beyond group photos. They tell the full story of a school year—formal and informal, funny and heartfelt.

We strike a perfect balance between:
– Class portraits and individual profile spreads
– TY modules, sports days, musicals, school trips
– Awards, student achievements, standout moments
– Behind-the-scenes snaps, candid selfies, group chats come to life

It’s not just an academic highlight reel—it’s the full year in book form.

 

4. Photography That Actually Looks Good

Let’s be honest: blurry photos ruin everything.

That’s why we always recommend schools:
– Use high-resolution photos from the start of the year
– Assign one or two “photo leads” to capture key moments
– Invest in a single day of professional photography, if possible

You don’t need hundreds of perfect shots—but a few high-quality images on each page elevate everything.

 

5. Built to Last. Printed to Matter.

This isn’t a leaflet. This is the kind of book you keep on a shelf for life.

AerEthos yearbooks are:
– Slightly smaller than A4—a size that feels great in your hands
– Printed on thick, durable stock with a smooth matte or gloss finish
– Bound properly, so it doesn’t fall apart after two summers in a schoolbag
– Heavy, beautiful, and worthy of the stories inside

You don’t just read it—you hold it. That’s the difference.

 

Common Mistakes to Avoid

These are the pitfalls that often trip up schools going it alone:

– Overloaded, messy layouts
– Inconsistent colours, fonts, and page styles
– Paragraphs of text with no visual breathing room
– Rushing the entire project in April or May

The result? A book that feels forgettable—because it was rushed.

Great yearbooks take time, care, and a steady hand. That’s what we bring.

 

 

The AerEthos Difference

At AerEthos, we don’t do templates. We build every yearbook from the ground up, designed specifically for your school and students.

Each book takes over 150 hours of design, editing, and layout. You get a dedicated designer—not just a portal.

And with AerEthos Vision, new in 2026, we’ve created a world-first innovation: students can tap or scan certain pages to unlock exclusive embedded videos. It’s the first time memories come to life inside a printed yearbook.

No templates. No gimmicks. Just beautiful, lasting work—trusted by award-winning schools across Ireland.

Because we don’t just design yearbooks.
We build legacy.

 

Final Tips for Schools

If you’re planning a yearbook this year, here’s what we recommend:

– Start early—ideally by November or December
– Gather content gradually (photos, quotes, pages—don’t leave it to Easter)
– Assign a dedicated lead teacher or student editor
– Focus on quality over quantity. A stunning 64-page book beats a rushed 120-page one every time.

 

Want a Yearbook You’ll Still Be Proud of in 20 Years?

We’ll help you create it.

Let’s build something beautiful together.
Fill out our form here, or email nathan@aerethos.com to get started.