Which architect designed McDonald’s first Golden Arches in 1952?

Stanley Clark Meston designed McDonald’s first Golden Arches in 1952.

Meston was hired to create a recognizable roadside restaurant design for the McDonald brothers. His solution included two large, bright-yellow arches placed at opposite sides of the building. Seen from the side, the arches formed a distinctive architectural silhouette.

The arches were initially part of the restaurant structure rather than an abstract corporate logo. Their strong shape helped motorists identify the restaurants from a distance, an especially valuable feature during the expansion of car-oriented roadside dining.

The design later evolved into the familiar overlapping “M” symbol. Jim Schindler is associated with the later logo development, so his name is a common mix-up in questions about the arches. Meston’s contribution came earlier, when the arches were still physical elements of individual restaurant buildings.