What McDonald’s logo shape was introduced in 1962 as a stylized “M”?

The Golden Arches were introduced in 1962 as a stylized “M” for McDonald’s.

The symbol developed from the large yellow arches used on McDonald’s restaurant buildings during the 1950s. In 1962, the arches were combined into a logo that could identify the company even without showing the entire building.

Jim Schindler is credited with creating the modern logo design. The mark’s two curved forms preserve the architectural origin while also reading as the first letter of McDonald’s. Its simple geometry made it easy to reproduce on signs, packaging, advertising, and later digital media.

The Golden Arches are sometimes described as having started as a logo in the 1950s, but the earliest arches were building elements. The standalone “M” treatment belongs to the 1962 redesign and became the company’s dominant visual identity.