The Golden Arches became McDonald's main symbol in the 1962 logo.
The symbol was based on the large yellow arches used in the design of McDonald's restaurants during the 1950s. Designer Jim Schindler combined the two separate architectural arches into an M-shaped mark, creating a simple emblem that could be reproduced consistently across signs, packaging, uniforms, and advertising.
The logo helped move McDonald's visual identity away from dependence on Speedee, the early chef mascot. Characters continued to appear in marketing, especially after the creation of Ronald McDonald and McDonaldland, but the arches became the stable corporate identifier shared by McDonald's restaurants worldwide.
The phrase “Golden Arches” refers both to the physical architectural forms and to the logo derived from them. The logo has been modified in color, lettering, and surrounding design over time, but the basic arches remain the central recognizable element.