Jim Schindler designed the modern Golden Arches logo by joining two separate arches into an “M” in 1962.
McDonald’s restaurant architecture had used individual arches before the logo was developed. The arches were originally designed as physical roadside features intended to make restaurants visible to passing motorists. Schindler combined the two visual elements into a single stylized form that could function as a corporate mark.
The resulting shape resembled the letter M while preserving the connection to the restaurants’ architecture. This combination helped transform a building feature into a portable identity used on signs, packaging, advertising, and corporate materials.
Ray Kroc expanded McDonald’s nationally but did not design the logo. Stanley Meston designed the original restaurant architecture associated with the arches, while Richard McDonald was one of the restaurant’s founders. Those roles are frequent sources of confusion.