This is one area that needs a new solution. We need a better way or approach to assigning districts that removes the bias and gerrymandering which satisfies everyone. Yep, and world peace while we are at it.
One thing that should be done is to require that a county cannot be split - so you at least have to work from whole counties to be divided. Then perhaps you determine which is the longest axis of the state (is it North/South or East/West). Then you just slice the state up along that major axis. It really could be very formulaic. I suppose you could use a different approach from what I suggested but it should be standard among all states.