Words by Eunice Baliong
Call it a keepsake, a memorabilia, a gift or whatever you like, your yearbook remains one of the solid testaments of your college years.
In its pursuit of producing a creative and methodical annual, the Crusader Yearbook of Xavier University launched a design study to serve as a guide in pursuing a uniform written and photographic identity for CYB 2017.
Check out the CYB 2017 Design Study on Behance!
“The new design study is an artistic way of presenting ideas,” said CYB executive editor Kirby James Jagape. “It is a meticulous presentation — a platform in an intricate and specific way.”
The said launching came on the heels of the opening of CYB's online profile management system for the graduating students, my.thecrusaderyearbook.com on Thursday, September 15.
The design study contains the general guidelines, overall theme, color schema, and the explanation of CYB’s character marks, down to the minutest of details such as the different font faces and sizes to be used in the yearbook.
The shield used in the new logo design is a contemporary nod to an academic symbol used throughout the history of XU, which first appeared during the institution’s inception in 1933.
“In the previous years, we have come up with a concept, but it was not translated as vividly as in this year’s design study. Our moderator dared us to make a design guide capturing the ideation and execution of the 2017 yearbook features and from there, we started conceptualizing it,” shared Jagape.
The design direction which started in June 2016 was based on the ideas agreed upon by the editorial board, with the artistic supervision of CYB moderator Stephen Pedroza.
“Our page-one meetings drew together different recollections, inspirations, and visions for the visual exposition and textual contents of the 2017 yearbook,” recounted Pedroza, who has helmed the office since June 2015.
“One mission of CYB is to keep improving the yearbook production each year with innovations from data gathering to creative designs, from editing down to printing and delivery. Another important aim of this identity design effort is to present a clearer picture to the community at large the merits and strengths of the university,” he continued.
THE VISION. Current Crusader Yearbook executive editor Kirby James Jagape talks about the new design study detailing the visual and textual presentation and vibe of the 2017 yearbook. Photo by Billy Jo Macale.
The bible of CYB
The design study serves as the bible for the CYB team which specifies the system of the entire publication process.
The overarching theme of the 2017 yearbook is “in a word — millennial,” drummed Jagape.
“The editorial board mainly conceptualized the design, but we had to look at the latest trends. We had to bridge what we wanted our yearbook to look like with what is going on outside,” he added.
The yearbook, however, will retain the neutral colors CYB has used over the years — grey, blue, black, and white — to keep its clean and classic tone.
“The design for the 2017 yearbook came with the idea of simplicity equated to a style that is classic and long-lasting," explained CYB creative director Timothy Emata. “We just wanted to make it minimalist and modern, but still visually brilliant.”
For the photos, the depiction adheres to the styles and rawness of documentary photography.
“This year’s photos follow three artistic priorities: neatness, timelessness, and minimalism,” imparted CYB photographer director Billy Jo Macale.
“For the 2017 yearbook, we are also forming the visual language for the portraits to exude heightened, youthful energy and evoke raw emotions,” added Macale.
Davao City-based Red Lens Studio & Multimedia and Midtown Printing Company are the official photography outfit and printing press partners of CYB this year.
The production of a yearbook takes time, from data gathering to cross-checking of graduates to layout and editing. Printing alone takes three to five months depending on the number of copies.
VISUAL LANGUAGE. CYB photographer director Billy Jo Macale says that this year’s photos follow three artistic priorities: neatness, timelessness, and minimalism.
Written and photographic record
Following the start of online registration, CYB targets to accommodate the senior students who will be having their out-of-town internship programs during the second semester. The early subscription is also dedicated for the Summer 2016 and (forthcoming) October 2016 graduates.
“The Crusader Yearbook has a great turn of season this time around,” said CYB chief production officer Clint Puertas. “Discount coupons from renowned establishments in Cagayan de Oro City will form part of this year’s graduates’ manuals.”
Puertas said that these coupons are “CYB’s early graduation rewards to the Class of 2017.” The graduates’ manuals will be released in November in time for the pictorials.
In the beginning of the academic year, the XU Office of Student Affairs has also recognized the newly-imposed nomenclature of the Crusader Yearbook editorial board members and staff in consonance with the identity of CYB as a hybrid between a student organization and a university unit.
“We believe that the contributions of the XU community, particularly the university offices and our subscribers, are valuable towards the success of this endeavor. We want to share the same goal with the Xavier community which is to create a high-caliber written and photographic record of the graduating class,” said Jagape.
“At the end of the day, we want the graduates to be satisfied and realize that CYB is not just a well-designed memento, but more importantly, a reliable system.” ∎