Who designed the first version of McDonald’s famous Golden Arches logo?

Jim Schindler designed the first version of McDonald’s Golden Arches logo. His 1962 design combined the two architectural arches used on many McDonald’s restaurants into a single golden symbol.

The arches originally served a practical architectural purpose. Architect Stanley Clark Meston designed the restaurant buildings with large yellow arches at their sides, making them visible to passing motorists. Schindler transformed that physical feature into a graphic mark.

The 1962 logo used a diagonal line through the arches, while later versions simplified the symbol into the familiar golden M. This evolution helped the mark work on signs, packaging, uniforms, and advertising.

Ray Kroc did not design the logo, although he was central to McDonald’s expansion. Stanley Meston designed the buildings, while Schindler created the early combined logo.