McDonald's used the name “Red and White” for its first major postwar restaurant design concept, introduced in 1953.
The Red and White design was created by architect Stanley Clark Meston for McDonald's restaurants. Its most recognizable features included a bright red-and-white color scheme, a pitched roof, roadside visibility, and the large yellow arches that projected from the building. The design helped make McDonald's restaurants easy to identify from passing traffic.
The arches began as architectural elements rather than as the standalone corporate logo familiar today. Over time, McDonald's separated the arches from the building and developed them into a powerful symbol used on signs, packaging, uniforms, and advertising. This transition is one reason the Red and White restaurant design matters in branding history.
“Golden Arches” is often used as if it were the name of the entire 1953 building concept, but it more precisely describes the yellow arch elements. “Red and White” identifies the architectural style and its dominant visual treatment.