The 1968 logo introduced the single golden arches joined into an “M” for McDonald’s.
Earlier McDonald’s designs used the arches as architectural elements or as two separate forms. In 1968, the company adopted a more unified logo in which the arches connected visually to create the familiar letter-like mark. This design became a major step toward the modern McDonald’s identity.
The golden arches had originally been inspired by the architecture of McDonald’s early restaurants. They were visible from roads and helped make the buildings recognizable to passing motorists. As the company expanded, the arches became more important as a standalone corporate symbol.
The 1968 mark should not be confused with later refinements, including versions placed inside a red rectangle and later simplified treatments. The precise appearance changed across applications, but the joined-arches concept established the core symbol used by McDonald’s worldwide.