Benno Wissing studied fine arts at the Rotterdam Academy (1941). Started his career in 1949 as an independent designer, working for cultural and industrial clients, as well as department stores. The Museum Boijmans-van Beuningen, Rotterdam was an early important client of his; he designed their posters, catalogues and many exhibitions (1949–63). In 1963 he was a co-founder of Total Design, Amsterdam. Wissing worked on signage projects for theatres, concert and exhibition venues, including Martini Hall, Groningen; Ahoy, Rotterdam; de Doelen, Rotterdam. His comprehen sive signage system for Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (1967) set an example for almost all early international airports that were equipped for the first generation of jumbo jets. He also worked as an architect and a product designer. He had his own design offices in Amsterdam (1972) and later in Providence, Rhode Island. In the early 1980s he taught as a professor at the Rhode Island School of Design, Providence.