Jim Schindler combined McDonald’s two architectural arches into the interlocking “M” logo in 1962.
The company’s original arches were separate structures attached to restaurant buildings. Schindler, a McDonald’s design consultant, adapted them into a single graphic mark by joining the arches at the center. This created the recognizable form that became the foundation of McDonald’s corporate branding.
The change mattered because the arches no longer depended on a particular building. They could appear on signs, packaging, advertisements, uniforms, and other branded materials. The logo therefore helped turn a restaurant design feature into a portable corporate symbol.
The designer is often confused with Stanley Meston, who designed the earlier restaurant architecture featuring the arches. The two men had different roles: Meston created the building concept, while Schindler created the interlocking emblem used in later branding.