What name is given to the yellow arch shapes that became McDonald’s best-known logo?

McDonald’s best-known logo is called the Golden Arches.

The design developed from the actual golden-colored arches built into some early McDonald’s restaurants. Architect Stanley Clark Meston used arches as a strong visual feature in the restaurants’ roadside architecture during the 1950s. Their shape was later combined into the familiar letter M.

The arches became a logo rather than merely an architectural feature during the 1960s. The symbol helped motorists recognize McDonald’s restaurants quickly, even before reading a sign. It also became one of the most recognizable corporate symbols in the world.

A common mix-up is assuming that the Golden Arches were originally designed as an abstract logo. They began as part of the restaurant buildings and were later simplified into branding. The modern symbol is usually shown in yellow, although McDonald’s has used different color combinations in particular locations and campaigns.