Meet Chris, Our Senior Designer & Brand Strategist

Chris Santoro Spotlight

A career-long freelance designer and studio owner specializing in brand strategy and identity design, Chris comes to Linchpin with years of creative knowledge and expertise, with a side of humor that keeps us laughing everyday.

Q: Where did you work before this, what experience do you have from there?

A: I started/co-founded two small design studios and freelanced for other clients before them.

Q: What is your career focus?

A: My career focus is becoming the best designer/creative partner I can be.

Q: What do you believe your best strength is within the company?

A: It’s a toss up between my ability to effectively work with clients, and my background in branding. I’m also a pretty nice guy.

Q: How would you describe yourself with three words?

A: Dedicated, efficient, caffeinated. ☕️

Q: How would your friends describe you?

A: Goofy, hard-working, caffeinated (heavily). ☕️ ☕️

Q: What is currently your computer background?

A: The new dynamic Big Sur backgrounds are pretty awesome, not going to lie.

Q: If money didn’t matter, what would you do all day?

A: Hang out in the downtown area, or drive up to Boston to see my friends/family.

Q: What is your biggest pet peeve?

A: Big egos and non-accountability, literally anywhere.

Q: What makes you bored?

A: Being stuck inside.

Q: Tell me about something you would happily do again.

A: Visit Provincetown, Chicago, Seattle, and San Francisco again. I’m also dying to visit London again.

Q: What are your three most overused words or phrases?

A: “Basically”, “Hop on a call”, “I’m starving!”

Q: What are two things you have with you at all times?

A: A cup of coffee, and my puppy follows me around like a shadow, so I guess that counts.

Q: How would you define success?

A: The ability to live the life that defines you, and providing for the people you care for.

True leadership is the abandonment of “my way or the highway,” in favor of good ideas and team equity.

Q: What advice would you give to your 18 year old self?

A: Band MySpace layouts don’t pay health insurance.

Q: What is the first thing on your bucket list?

A: Visit Japan.

Q: Favorite activities on your day off?

A: Cooking with my girlfriend, playing Ghost of Tsushima and God of War for the nth time, taking trips to Boston.

Q: What is one thing you can’t live without?

A: It’s a toss-up between my espresso machine and my Dutch oven.

Q: What does true leadership mean to you?

A: *big inhale* Guiding others, not forcing them. Hiring those smarter than you to bring about value and effective change, not just to delegate tasks to. Being open-minded and empathetic to new perspectives and ideas, while also making the necessary tough decisions. True leadership is the abandonment of “my way or the highway,” in favor of good ideas and team equity. True leadership sees the team as more than just “assets.” A true leader is not a boss.

Learn more about Chris and the rest of the Linchpin gang!

Mary Beth Amaral

With a keen eye for detail, Mary Beth dreams of a pixel perfect world. After graduating summa cum laude from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth with a BFA in Graphic Design and a minor in Art History, Mary Beth’s love of learning sent her back to her alma mater where she further explored her passion for information architecture and user experience, earning a degree in Web & Interactive Design.

| @maryelizabeth55