The Golden Arches logo replaced McDonald's earlier Speedee character as the company's main symbol in 1962.
The arches originated in the architecture of McDonald's early restaurants. Architect Stanley Clark Meston designed prominent yellow arches for the San Bernardino restaurant associated with Richard and Maurice McDonald. The shapes were visible from the road and helped the buildings stand out to passing motorists.
In 1962, Jim Schindler combined the two arches into the stylized M-shaped emblem recognized around the world. This change transformed an architectural feature into a corporate mark. The arches were later simplified and adapted for signs, packaging, uniforms, advertising, and digital use.
The Golden Arches are sometimes confused with the original restaurant architecture itself. The buildings used separate physical arches, while the 1962 emblem merged them into one graphic symbol. McDonald's has modified its visual system over time, but the arches remain its defining branding element.