Jim Schindler created the 1962 McDonald’s logo that combined the arches into an “M.”
The mark developed from the yellow arches used on McDonald’s restaurant buildings. Schindler’s design joined the two arch shapes visually, producing a symbol that could identify the company even when the full restaurant facade was not visible.
This was an important step in McDonald’s branding history because it converted an architectural feature into a flexible corporate logo. The mark could appear on roadside signs, menus, packaging, employee clothing, and advertising. Its simple geometry also made it practical for reproduction in different sizes.
Stanley Meston is associated with the earlier restaurant architecture, which is why the two names are sometimes confused. Meston designed the physical arches; Schindler developed the combined graphic form that became the familiar “M.”