Which 1960s McDonald's logo combined two arches into the familiar letter M shape?

The Golden Arches logo combined two arches into the familiar letter M shape.

The arches originated as physical structures on McDonald's restaurants, where their height and bright yellow color helped attract passing customers. As the company expanded, the visual idea was simplified into a mark that could represent the entire business rather than one building.

In 1962, McDonald's introduced the corporate version of the Golden Arches. The two separate architectural forms were read together as an M, creating a compact symbol that worked on signs, packaging, advertisements, and printed materials. This was a crucial step in turning restaurant architecture into global brand identity.

The symbol is often described simply as the “McDonald's logo,” but “Golden Arches” is the established name for the branding concept. The later logo was refined several times, while retaining the basic two-arch silhouette that made the mark instantly recognizable.