Which McDonald's branding element did the 1962 logo combine into a letter M?

The 1962 McDonald's logo combined the two Golden Arches into a letter M.

The arches had originally been designed as physical features of McDonald's restaurant buildings. Their tall yellow forms were intended to attract attention from roadsides, making the restaurants easier for motorists to recognize.

Jim Schindler adapted the pair of architectural arches into a single graphic mark. When joined visually, the arches created an M associated with the McDonald's name. This change helped the symbol work beyond the building itself, appearing on signs, cups, wrappers, and advertising.

The logo is sometimes described as simply a yellow letter M, but its branding significance comes from the arches' architectural origin. The mark also differs from Speedee, the company's early mascot, and from McDonaldland, the later fictional advertising world. Together, these elements show how McDonald's moved from local restaurant imagery toward a global visual identity.