Who created McDonald’s modern arches-shaped “M” logo in 1962?

Jim Schindler created McDonald’s modern arches-shaped “M” logo in 1962.

Schindler, a McDonald’s construction and engineering manager, combined the two architectural arches into a single graphic mark. The result transformed the building’s physical design into a simple symbol that could work on signs, packaging, uniforms, and advertising.

The logo’s shape retained the visual logic of the earlier restaurants while becoming much more flexible as a branding device. Its bright yellow color and distinctive curves helped it remain recognizable even when the full McDonald’s name was not displayed.

A frequent mix-up is crediting Stanley Clark Meston with the logo. Meston designed the original restaurant buildings and their arches, while Schindler created the later graphic emblem. The logo also predates the modern wordmark and many later changes to McDonald’s visual identity.