Stanley Meston designed the original McDonald’s restaurant arches in the 1950s.
Meston worked with sign designer Charles Fish to develop the distinctive architectural arches for McDonald’s restaurants. The first notable pair was installed at the restaurant in Downey, California, which opened in 1953. The arches were intended to make the building visible and memorable to passing motorists.
The design later evolved from architecture into a corporate symbol. In 1962, the arches were combined into the familiar M-shaped logo, giving McDonald’s a mark that could appear independently of the restaurant building. This transition helped unify signs, packaging, and advertising.
Stanley Meston is sometimes confused with Jim Schindler, who is associated with the later logo design. Meston’s contribution was the original architectural arch concept, while the subsequent logo development turned those forms into McDonald’s enduring emblem.