If you have ever traveled through Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, you would have seen the handiwork of the Dutch wayfinding design firm Mijksenaar, whose signs, maps and other visual information systems have been part of the facility’s landscape since 1990. While Schiphol, one of the world’s busiest airports, with more than 71 million passengers last year, is the longest running project of Mijksenaar (pronounced MIKE-se-nar), the firm’s mark can also be found in other airports, transit hubs and museums around the world.

“We all want to find our way; no one wants to get lost,” said Herbert Seevinck, Mijksenaar’s chief executive and owner during a phone interview from his Amsterdam office. (The firm also maintains a bureau in New York City.)

“One thing I love about our work is the big chunk of psychology that’s involved,” said Mr. Seevinck, who took over the business in 2010 from the founder, Paul Mijksenaar. “While traveling, people are a bit more anxious and that affects how they act.”

How do your designers account for travelers’ anxiety and stress?

We use a lot of color, especially yellow, but if we’re doing our job, you won’t notice it unless you’re a frequent traveler. For instance, at Schiphol, if you’re going all the time, you might find the yellow too much. But if you’re new there, the yellow signs become a source of comfort. But when people become really stressed, nothing helps them find their way except asking other people.