Who created the overlapping-arches version of the McDonald's logo in 1962?

Jim Schindler created the overlapping-arches version of the McDonald’s logo in 1962.

The design joined the two yellow architectural arches into a stylized “M.” This was a major branding step because it converted a feature of McDonald’s buildings into a portable corporate symbol that could appear on packaging, signs, advertisements, and other materials.

The logo’s roots still lay in the restaurants designed earlier by architect Stanley Clark Meston. Meston created the physical arches in the 1950s, but Schindler’s graphic treatment made the pair function as a consistent trademark-like emblem.

The Golden Arches have changed in presentation over time. Versions have appeared with the company name, with different backgrounds, and sometimes as the standalone yellow “M.” The basic overlapping form, however, is the key idea associated with the 1962 redesign. Willard Scott is linked to the first Ronald McDonald portrayal, and Ray Kroc is linked to the company’s expansion, not this logo refinement.