Mapping the Experience: Intuitive Wayfinding for FIFO Villages
- Rio Tinto
- Creative in action
- Minerals + Energy
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Helping residents feel at home from day one.
The Opportunity
Rio Tinto’s FIFO villages are places where people live and work for extended periods. With new residents arriving regularly, orientation plays an important role in how quickly people settle into their surroundings. Clear wayfinding supports confidence, reduces friction, and helps new arrivals feel comfortable from the moment they arrive.
The brief focused on creating a clearer, more intuitive map that helped residents find their way around the village and reflected its unique character.
Mapping the Experience: Intuitive Wayfinding for FIFO Villages
- Client: Rio Tinto
- Service: Creative
- Sector: Minerals + Energy
OUR APPROACH
Each village was analysed using satellite imagery and Google Earth to ensure layouts reflected real-world conditions. Accuracy was essential so residents could rely on the maps immediately.
A standardised legend and icon system was developed to create familiarity across villages. This ensured residents could quickly understand key locations regardless of where they were staying. Main facilities were highlighted in yellow to improve visibility, while accommodation blocks were colour-coded to support quick recognition.
Design decisions focused on legibility and ease of use. Strong contrast and clear hierarchy ensured the maps were easy to interpret, whether viewed on physical signage or within the My Village App. Visual elements were aligned closely with Rio Tinto’s brand to ensure consistency across environments.
THE OUTCOMES
The redesigned maps now play a meaningful role in the FIFO village experience. Residents are able to orient themselves more quickly, locate facilities with confidence, and feel more settled during their stay. The maps contribute to a stronger sense of place and support a smoother arrival experience for new residents.
The system has been rolled out across Rio Tinto FIFO villages and integrated into the My Village App. By establishing a master map style, new villages can be mapped efficiently while maintaining consistency and quality across all sites.
“We’ve had amazing feedback on site from our teams and employees with the design of the brochures and maps. They’re bright, fun and most importantly easy to understand.”
Nicole Salmeri - Communications Specialist at Rio TInto
