What 1950s restaurant design feature inspired McDonald's modern Golden Arches logo?

Twin yellow arches inspired McDonald's modern Golden Arches logo.

The original McDonald's restaurant design used one large arch on each side of the building. The arches were tall, curved, and brightly colored so that motorists could identify the restaurant from a distance. Together, they formed a memorable visual landmark before they became a simplified corporate mark.

Architect Stanley Meston created the building design for the McDonald brothers' restaurant concept. In 1962, designer Jim Schindler combined the two architectural forms into the “M” symbol now associated with McDonald's branding.

The arches are often described as if they were invented first as a letter logo. Historically, the architecture came first. Their later graphic combination explains why the corporate symbol resembles an “M” while still being called the Golden Arches.