McDonald's introduced its familiar two-arches logo in 1962.
The design developed from the golden arches built into earlier McDonald's restaurant structures. By joining the two arches into an M-shaped graphic, the company created a compact emblem that could identify the brand beyond the restaurant building itself.
The year 1962 is often confused with other important McDonald's design dates. Stanley Meston's early restaurant architecture dates from the 1950s, and the arches appeared on buildings before they became the standalone corporate mark. The logo also predates later changes to restaurant colors, packaging, and advertising styles.
The arches became especially powerful because they worked both as a letter and as a visual sign. Customers could recognize the symbol from a distance, even when the full company name was not prominent.