McDonald’s introduced its modern joined-arches logo in 1962.
The logo developed from the yellow arches built into McDonald’s restaurants during the 1950s. Designer Jim Schindler combined the two arches into a stylized “M,” creating a compact symbol that could be used on signs, packaging, and advertising.
This change was important because the company was expanding beyond individual restaurant buildings. A consistent logo allowed customers to recognize McDonald’s in different locations and helped turn the architectural feature into a portable brand identity.
The 1962 mark should not be confused with the company’s earliest hamburger branding from 1948 or with later refinements to the logo. The arches’ exact presentation has changed, but the joined form established the enduring visual shorthand used around the world.