Jim Schindler created the modern McDonald's logo by combining the restaurant's two arches into an M.
The Golden Arches had first existed as architectural elements on McDonald's restaurant buildings. Schindler adapted the two separate arches into a single visual mark, turning the building design into a compact symbol that could work on signs, packaging, and other promotional materials.
This change was important because a logo must remain recognizable in many sizes and settings. The stylized arches could identify McDonald's even when a full restaurant building was not visible.
The logo is often mistaken for the original architectural design itself. In fact, the building arches came first, while Schindler's graphic combination created the familiar M-shaped emblem. That transformation helped make the Golden Arches one of the most internationally recognized corporate symbols.