Submarine Channel

Making sure people find their way, quickly and easily. That’s what the designers at Mijksenaar do best. Whether it’s signage for a busy airport or an idyllic park. They make spaces more accessible, easier to comprehend, and safer.

In 1991 Mijksenaar set the new standard for wayfinding when they redesigned the signage for Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, with signs and pictograms that are directly recognisable for passengers from all over the globe. In 2002 Mijksenaar completed the wayfinding system for the three major airports in New York. They are constantly improving the orientation and navigation in hospitals, universities, museums and public transport systems.

For founder Paul Mijksenaar all good wayfinding starts with the psychology of the traveller. Mijksenaar adresses the challenges in even the most complex locations. With user-focused solutions, they create navigating systems that are both lucid and beautiful. For airport facilities Mijksenaar devised different crystal-clear colour schemes that are not directly related to travel, such as blue signs for shops, yellow for arrivals and departures and green for the emergency exits.

Credits
Director: Noud Holtman, Camera: Stef Tijdink, Sound: Benny Jansen, Editing: Casper Sikken, Commissioning editor Submarine: Geert van de Wetering, Production Submarine: Olivia van Leeuwen, Production assistance: Marah Haan, Voice Over: Lotje Sodderland, Music/sound design: Big Orange, Produced by Submarine, Commissioned by DutchDFA.

Dutch Profiles is a series of short documentaries produced by Submarine commissioned by DutchDFA about architects, graphic, product and fashion designers in the Netherlands.
dutchdesign.submarinechannel.com

Dutch Profiles focuses on the conceptual, context-oriented and research-based practice of Dutch designers and includes interviews with, among others: MVRDV, 2012 Architects, Jurgen Bey, Claudy Jongstra, Gerard Unger, Paul Mijksenaar, Marlies Dekkers, Alexander van Slobbe and G-Star.