New simple lease design

Could you transform leases into a more proactive, problem-solving tool through better information design?

How can leases be more of a useful tool to manage the landlord-tenant relationship? At the start of this relationship, a lease could:

  • lay out responsibilities and obligations clearly
  • let people know what to do if things go wrong
  • connect people to services in case they’re anticipating a problem (like around rent payments, especially)
  • give a sense of trust and mutual respect

This lease from the information design agency Hey Plain Jane shows what a lease could be.

Model visual design lease

What makes a well-designed lease?

  1. Grouping into strategic sections, so that a person can scan for the most important messages & dig into the details where they’re most concerned.
  2. Light illustrations that complement the text, and help the reader visualize & understand what’s being discussed
  3. Plain language that reflects how people normally talk about these issues
  4. Streamlining into a cover sheet like this one that summarizes the key points — and text afterwards, in subsequent pages can detail more
  5. Use of lists and bullet points to break apart large passages into actionable steps

Leave a Reply

Related Posts

Data tracking evictions in Milwaukee

The Track Milwaukee Evictions website has gathered data about local eviction filings, court outcomes, neighborhood risk, and housing code violations. They present the data fields & visualizations to show how the eviction system works locally — and who is most at risk.