McDonald's introduced its recognizable Golden Arches logo in 1962.
The logo was created when the two architectural arches were simplified into a single, stylized “M.” This graphic treatment made the symbol easier to reproduce on signs, packaging, advertisements, and other branded materials than the original building-based design.
Jim Schindler, McDonald's head of construction and design, is credited with developing the 1962 logo. The design retained the visual memory of the restaurant's physical arches while turning them into a portable corporate mark. The symbol therefore linked McDonald's newer national identity with the architecture of its earlier restaurants.
The Golden Arches are sometimes dated only to the 1950s because the first restaurant arches appeared then. That earlier date refers to the building feature, not the familiar standalone logo. The 1962 version established the core shape that has remained central to McDonald's branding, even though its surrounding colors, typography, and advertising styles have changed.