After nearly five decades of dedication, craftsmanship, and commitment to quality, Leo Dudek is retiring from Design Mark after 49 years with the company. His career reflects not only the evolution of industrial printing and color matching technology, but also the people and culture that continue to define Design Mark today.
Leo began his journey at Design Mark after looking for a job closer to home. At the time, he was commuting nearly an hour each way to his previous position. When he saw an advertisement for Design Mark, he decided to apply — a decision that would lead to a remarkable 49-year career in industrial printing and precision color matching.
“I started as a screen maker,” Leo recalls. “Back then, we didn’t have the ink and color matching department we have today.”
As the company expanded its printing and labeling capabilities, Leo became part of the effort to develop the ink department and improve the company’s color matching systems. What began as a new opportunity quickly became a long-term career built around quality, consistency, and teamwork.
How Industrial Printing and Color Matching Have Changed
Over the last 49 years, Leo has seen dramatic changes in industrial printing technology. Early in his career, color matching relied heavily on visual evaluation and older computer systems. Today, the process is far more advanced and data-driven.
“We started with an older color-eyeing computer,” Leo says. “Now we use a spectrophotometer.”
The spectrophotometer became one of Leo’s favorite pieces of equipment at Design Mark. The technology works by shining a beam of light onto a material and analyzing how the color reflects back. The system breaks the reflected light into measurable data that becomes a “fingerprint” of the color. That information is then stored digitally to help create highly accurate color formulas for industrial labels, graphic overlays, membrane switches, and printed components.
Leo also appreciated how new technologies, including AI-assisted software and advanced color systems, helped the company move even closer to exact color formulas and repeatable quality.
Building Quality Through Experience
Throughout his career, Leo became known for his attention to detail and deep understanding of industrial color matching. While some people may think color matching is simply mixing a few inks together, Leo says the reality is much more complex.
“There are a lot of little things that can change the color,” he explains.
Over the years, he developed his skills through repetition, hands-on experience, and professional training seminars. His ability to consistently produce accurate colors helped support the quality standards that customers expect from Design Mark.
For Leo, the most rewarding part of the job was always simple: seeing the final product look right and knowing the customer was happy.
“When you match a color and it looks good and the customer is happy, that’s the best part.”
Memorable Projects and Company Growth
Although Leo worked on thousands of projects during his career, one particularly demanding job still stands out. About 12 years ago, the company supported a large Bose project involving wireless speakers. The production schedule required 12-hour shifts, seven days a week, to create labels that covered molding imperfections on the product.
The project highlighted the flexibility, teamwork, and manufacturing quality that have long been part of Design Mark’s culture.
Leo is also proud of helping build and organize the ink department over the years. By creating better systems and processes, he helped make training easier and improved consistency across production.
“There’s a setup now,” he says. “People understand the system.” 
What Makes Design Mark Special
When asked what separates Design Mark from other companies in the industry, Leo answers without hesitation: quality.
“We always want to give the customer a quality product.”
That commitment to quality has helped Design Mark support customers across industries including medical devices, industrial manufacturing, aerospace, electronics, and durable industrial identification products.
But beyond the technology and production capabilities, Leo says the people are what he will miss most.
“The people,” he says simply.
Over 49 years, Leo built lasting friendships and relationships with coworkers throughout the company — something he describes as one of the best parts of his career.
Advice for the Next Generation
For younger employees entering the industrial printing and labeling industry, Leo offers practical advice.
“Stick with it,” he says. “There’s a lot to learn.”
His career is proof that experience, patience, and dedication can lead to meaningful work and long-term success in manufacturing and industrial printing.
Looking Ahead to Retirement
As retirement begins, Leo is looking forward to a slower pace and more time with family. After decades of early mornings, he says he will not miss waking up at 4:30 AM.
Instead, he plans to spend more time traveling, visiting places like San Diego, the Florida Keys, Alaska, and Ireland. He is also excited to enjoy day trips, spend more time at the gym, and make memories with his five grandchildren.
While Leo’s daily presence at Design Mark will certainly be missed, his impact on the company’s quality standards, color matching expertise, and team culture will remain for years to come.
Congratulations to Leo Dudek on an incredible 49-year career, and thank you for everything you’ve contributed to Design Mark.