Logo credit: Heye & Partner GmbH

Whether you’re on the highway looking for a place to stop and eat, or wondering around a big city, there’s a good chance that one symbol catches your eye—the golden arches of McDonald’s! McDonald’s is one of the most recognizable and valuable brands in the world, and the story of its logo development process is inspirational.

The Birth of the Iconic Fast Food Restaurant

McDonald’s began in 1937 as a drive-in eatery called The Airdome. The restaurant was moved in 1940 by Richard and Maurice McDonald, who renamed it McDonald’s. Since the eatery became so popular, the brothers were inspired to remodel the business in an eye-catching fashion. They employed Stanley Clark Meston to redesign the architecture of the restaurant. He created the now famous golden arches that became the centerpiece of the McDonald’s logo. Ray Kroc joined the company in 1955 and helped these iconic architectural elements to become a household name.

Kickstarting Marketing

In 1961, Ray Kroc bought the business. He invested heavily in marketing and began creating franchises. Since 1968, the golden arches have been part of the McDonald’s identity. Kroc combined the two arches found on each building to create the “M” that symbolizes the restaurant. This original version of the logo remained without major alteration until 2013.

Today’s Logo

In June 2003, the “I’m lovin’ it!” marketing campaign began. The golden arches logo development process was completed by Heye & Partner GmbH. The design team slightly altered the “M” and added a shadow behind it, along with the tagline “I’m lovin’ it”. The rest is history.

Logo Development from m design

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