Jim Schindler created the 1962 McDonald's logo redesign that formed the Golden Arches into an “M.”
The redesign transformed the arches from separate architectural elements into a graphic symbol. Schindler combined the two arch shapes so that their outlines suggested the letter M, producing a logo that could appear on signs, packaging, and printed advertising even when no restaurant building was visible.
This change was important because it made the arches portable as a brand identity. The logo could represent the corporation and its restaurants across different locations, rather than functioning only as part of a particular building's design.
The architectural origin of the arches is why Stanley Clark Meston is also connected with the symbol. Meston designed the original Phoenix restaurant structure, while Schindler is credited with the later graphic logo treatment. These are related but distinct contributions to McDonald's branding history.