Who designed the modern joined Golden Arches logo used by McDonald’s?

Jim Schindler designed the modern joined Golden Arches logo used by McDonald’s.

The logo developed from the arches built into early McDonald’s restaurant buildings. Architect Stanley Meston designed the original architectural arches in the 1950s, but the later corporate mark combined the two arches into the recognizable letter-like “M.”

In 1962, Schindler joined the arches to create the logo that became the basis of McDonald’s global visual identity. The design transformed a building feature into a compact symbol that could work on signs, packaging, uniforms, and advertisements.

The Golden Arches are often incorrectly credited entirely to Ray Kroc, the businessman who expanded McDonald’s through franchising. Kroc was crucial to the company’s growth, but he was not the designer of the joined logo. The mark’s strength comes from connecting architecture, typography, and instant brand recognition.