Who designed the original Golden Arches for McDonald's restaurants in 1952?

Stanley Meston designed the original Golden Arches for McDonald's restaurants in 1952.

The arches were created for a new McDonald's building in Phoenix, Arizona. Architect Stanley Meston worked with the McDonald brothers to develop a highly visible roadside design. The structure used two large yellow arches at opposite ends of the building.

The arches were initially part of the restaurant architecture rather than a standalone corporate logo. Their bright color and unusual shape helped passing motorists recognize the restaurant from a distance, especially during the era of car-focused roadside dining.

McDonald's later simplified the visual idea into the familiar golden “M” used worldwide. A common mix-up is attributing the original architectural design to Ray Kroc, who became the company's major franchise leader after the brothers had already established their restaurant concept. Kroc helped expand McDonald's, but Meston designed the original arches.