Jim Schindler created the modern Golden Arches logo from McDonald's restaurant architecture.
The original arches were designed as physical architectural features by architect Stanley Clark Meston for McDonald's restaurants. In 1962, Schindler combined the two arches into a stylized M, turning a building element into a corporate symbol.
This history creates a common mix-up: Meston designed the restaurant arches, while Schindler created the logo form based on them. The resulting Golden Arches became one of the most recognizable marks in global branding and eventually stood independently of the restaurant buildings.