McDonald's introduced the modern Golden Arches logo as a corporate symbol in 1962.
The logo transformed the arches from physical restaurant architecture into a simplified graphic mark. Designer Jim Schindler combined the two arches into the recognizable M shape, creating a symbol that could work on signs, packaging, advertising, and other corporate materials.
The change did not mean that the earlier architectural arches disappeared immediately. Many restaurants continued to display physical arches, while the new graphic identity made the symbol more portable and consistent. Over time, the golden M became more important than the building design itself.
The year is sometimes confused with 1953, when an early restaurant featuring the arches opened in Phoenix, Arizona. That earlier date concerns the architectural use of the arches; 1962 refers to the development of the familiar corporate logo.