The Golden Arches symbol was created by combining side views of McDonald’s two architectural arches.
Early McDonald’s restaurants used large yellow arches as prominent roadside design features. When viewed from the side, the two arches could be joined visually to form an “M,” transforming a building element into a recognizable brand mark.
The arches were designed for restaurant architecture by Stanley Meston, while the 1962 graphic logo was developed by Jim Schindler. This distinction matters because the physical arches and the later emblem are related but not identical achievements.
The Golden Arches became more than a sign for an individual restaurant. They came to represent McDonald’s as a global company, making the symbol an important example of architectural branding becoming corporate identity.