Jim Schindler created McDonald's modern Golden Arches logo by joining two separate arches.
Schindler worked for McDonald's and developed the 1962 corporate symbol from the paired arches used in the chain's restaurant architecture. By combining them into a single M-shaped mark, he created a design that could identify the company even without a full restaurant facade.
The original arches had been designed by architect Stanley Meston in 1952 for a McDonald's restaurant in San Bernardino. Meston's work supplied the architectural source, while Schindler's later design supplied the unified corporate logo.
Ray Kroc is often associated with McDonald's expansion and branding, but he did not design the Golden Arches logo. Willard Scott is associated with the first portrayal of Ronald McDonald. Separating these roles helps explain how the chain's visual identity developed.