About
Detonator is Chris and Matt Vanderlinden. We use the power of storytelling to build emotional connections between brands and people.
Detonator is a creative firm that helps organizations define, craft and communicate explosive stories, leveraging the power of storytelling to build an emotional connection between brands and their customers. We offer a potent Molotov cocktail of creative juices focused on bringing a little more “shock and awesome” to your brand strategy, delivering great ideas carefully and lovingly wrapped in C-4 for a little extra kick.
So who's behind this operation?
Two brothers. One of us had a mustache in sixth grade, the other inadvertently inhaled a pine cone. We’ll leave it to you to figure out which is which. The point is, we’ve come a long way since then. Really.
Want to know a little more? Okay, bring down the lights. Let’s get formal for a minute.
Matt Vanderlinden
Storytelling has always been at the core of Matt’s approach to building relationships and businesses. For the last 14 years, Matt’s used the power of storytelling to create and grow brands by finding the emotional connection point between brands and consumers. As CEO of an apparel company specializing in collegiate-licensed children’s clothing, Matt spent a decade of his career building relationships with billion-dollar, multi-location retailers and small local bookstores alike through a compelling brand story. As a consultant, Matt’s helped organizations in the healthcare, financial, retail, manufacturing and entertainment sectors define and communicate their stories in ways that create growth.
Chris Vanderlinden
Chris has spent the last twelve years as an independent creative director tirelessly building the brands of his clients. He's worked with billion-dollar corporations, diverse advertising agencies, and charitable organizations from all over the country. He's designed and directed compelling campaigns for print, web, and television. His ability to craft an emotionally engaging story that resonates with all kinds of audiences has kept his services in high demand.
We could share all kinds of other details about growing up together, all of them embarrassing to some degree. But we thought we’d spare you from endless stories about who’s responsible for losing all the specialty pieces for the Lego® spaceship (Chris). Or for breaking the super-fast toboggan*(Chris). Or for bending the fork on Dad’s used-to-be-totally-awesome racing bike (Chris). Enough said.
*I’m talkin’ blazingly, illegally, ridiculously fast. Take that sucker to Sunset Park, coat the bottom with silicone spray, and you’re practically pullin’ a “Back to the Future,” flaming trail and all! You’ll wake up in 1955, I kid you not!