What branding symbol did McDonald’s introduce in 1962 as its new corporate logo?

McDonald’s introduced the Golden Arches as its new corporate logo in 1962.

The design grew from the architecture of early McDonald’s restaurants, whose buildings featured two large yellow arches at opposite ends. Architect Stanley Clark Meston created the restaurant design in the 1950s, and the arches became a prominent visual feature before they were combined into the familiar M-shaped emblem.

Jim Schindler redesigned the symbol in 1962 by joining the two arches into a single logo. This change made the mark easier to reproduce on signs, packaging, advertising, and restaurant materials. The emblem is often called the “Golden Arches,” although it resembles an M as well.

A common mix-up is assuming the logo began as a letter M. Its immediate visual inspiration was architectural, while the association with McDonald’s grew through worldwide use. The arches later became one of the most recognizable corporate symbols in the world.