Jim Schindler is credited with creating McDonald's 1962 Golden Arches logo.
Schindler worked as a construction and engineering consultant for McDonald's. His logo design transformed the restaurant buildings' paired yellow arches into a recognizable emblem. The design connected the two arches into the characteristic M associated with the company.
Stanley Clark Meston is credited with designing the physical arches used in McDonald's restaurant architecture, which is why the two names are sometimes confused. Meston's work supplied the architectural inspiration, while Schindler's work adapted that visual idea into a corporate logo.
McDonald's identity later became more minimal. In many applications, the golden arches appear without the older lettering and additional elements. Even after these changes, the 1962 mark remains the key step that turned a restaurant feature into a global brand symbol.