McDonald's adopted Jim Schindler's interlocking-arcs logo in 1962.
Schindler combined the two architectural arches into a single stylized M. This transformed a feature of the restaurant buildings into a compact mark that could work on signs, packaging, stationery, and advertising. The design became known as the Golden Arches.
The logo's development followed the chain's rapid expansion under Ray Kroc. A consistent symbol was increasingly useful as McDonald's restaurants appeared in more cities and countries. The arches also retained a visual connection to the distinctive buildings that customers already associated with the chain.
The year 1962 is sometimes confused with 1955, when the McDonald's Corporation was founded, or with 1968, when the Big Mac was introduced. Those events belong to the same broad period of expansion but are separate milestones in the company's history.