McDonald’s adopted the unified Golden Arches logo designed by Jim Schindler in 1962.
The original arches were separate architectural elements placed at opposite ends of some early McDonald’s buildings. In 1962, design consultant Jim Schindler transformed them into the recognizable paired-arch symbol. The design resembles an “M,” linking the symbol visually with the company name.
This change was part of McDonald’s effort to create a consistent national identity as the chain expanded through franchising. A simple emblem could appear on signs, packaging, uniforms, advertising, and restaurant buildings even when individual locations differed in size or layout.
The logo’s history is sometimes confused with the 1952 building design. Meston designed the earlier restaurant architecture, while Schindler created the unified logo form. The arches also became strongly associated with McDonald’s before later wordmarks and graphic refinements were introduced.