McDonald's introduced the joined Golden Arches logo resembling an “M” in 1962. The design transformed two separate architectural arches into a single corporate symbol.
The logo was designed by Jim Schindler, who combined the arches into the shape now strongly associated with McDonald's. A line through the center was also part of the early design, reflecting the arches' architectural origins before later simplification.
The 1962 date is often confused with other important moments in McDonald's history. The first franchised McDonald's restaurant opened in 1955, while the familiar modern wordmark and later logo refinements developed afterward. The Golden Arches became especially powerful because the same shape could identify a building, a sign, packaging, and advertising.