Who combined McDonald's two separate arches into the familiar “M” logo in 1962?

Jim Schindler combined McDonald's two separate arches into the familiar “M” logo in 1962.

The original Golden Arches were architectural structures placed on opposite sides of McDonald's buildings. When the company updated its visual identity, design consultant Jim Schindler viewed the arches from an angle and connected them into a single stylized letter M.

This change transformed a building feature into a portable corporate mark. The resulting symbol could appear on signs, packaging, advertisements, uniforms, and other materials even when no restaurant building was visible.

People sometimes assume that Stanley Meston created the complete modern logo. Meston designed the original physical arches, while Schindler is credited with joining them into the logo form. The logo's shape is therefore rooted in architecture but functions as a graphic symbol.