Who created the modern Golden Arches design used in McDonald's branding in 1962?

Jim Schindler created the modern Golden Arches design used in McDonald's branding in 1962.

The arches began as architectural features on McDonald's restaurants. Architect Stanley Meston designed the original arches for the company's early buildings, and they were intended to attract motorists with a strong roadside silhouette. The two separate arches later became a combined visual mark.

In 1962, McDonald's design head Jim Schindler created the familiar golden “M” form by combining the arches into one logo. This was a branding development rather than simply a change to the restaurant's architecture. The symbol could appear on signs, packaging, uniforms, and advertising even when a full building was not visible.

People sometimes credit Ray Kroc or Stanley Meston with the logo itself. Kroc was central to the company's expansion, while Meston designed the early architectural arches. Schindler is specifically associated with turning those architectural elements into the unified emblem recognized worldwide.