At our last event in the 2010 Productivity Series, we talked about Workplace Artifacts. A powerful component of effective forms, files and workspaces is the use of zoning.

When we hear the word “zoning”, most of us think of civic planning. City officials define specific regions of land and specify their fate. By carefully placing commercial, residential and industrial zones, planners can encourage growth and commerce.

There is tremendous power in using “zones” in other parts of work. Think about the zones that appear on a paper form, usually as blank lines or boxes. They tell you where to write and what answers are needed.

Here on the methodology blog, we’ve complained before about forms that are too small. Zoning, however, gives us an even smarter technique for describing spaces. Compare this:

Email Address: ________________________________________________________

To an alternate method:

Email Address:  [ _____________________ ] @ [ ________________ ] . [ ____________ ]

This simple change will help ensure that people can use the form more easily. It also forces the designer of the artifact to truly see how much space is available.

The same concept can be used in physical spaces as well as with paper. You already create “zones” as file folders in your cabinets. You can make these zones more effective by setting up divisions and using clear labels.

Zoning is a straightforward technique with a powerful result. Try it out! Learn more about this approach as part of our Productivity Coaching service.

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